The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1906-02-01
Mr.: President, Honorable. ./udgss, and

Mr.. President, Honorable. .JNdges, and
FelzozU CAlzutauquans::
A T A TIME when the progressive
~ element of every nation, whether
~ it be\actuated by motives of
humanity or commercialism, is
seeking and considering suggestions
which will insure the continuance of
universal peace, an advocate of exis-
ting conditions has arisen and asked
you to pass resolution or give a
decision that war has been beneficial
to civilization and that it is necessity.
In other words he asks you to place
yourselves on record as being so firmly
convinced of the benefits of war that
you do not deem it advisable to find
means of avoiding it.
am one of number of persons
who believe in progress along any and
all lines which will bring the greatest
good to the greatest number. Assuch,
then, it becomes my duty to see that
this resolution does not pass, unless it
be supported by the clearest and most
convincing proof. I do not ask you to
commit yourselves in favor of any
special remedy or method of Obviating
war, but merely that you deny the reso-
luton beforeyo My opponent has men,
toned The Hague Tribunal. am not
especially advocating the cause of that
institution or advancing any argument
in favor of The Hague Tribunal, but
do believe that any form of govern
ment would be preferable to the exist
ing condition of international anarchy.
It will be my purpose in this discussion
to call your attention to certain points,
all of which must be clearly and fully
established before you can properly en-
tertain our friends request, and then
to demonstrate how very far he has
fallen short in his effort to establish
them, and the fallacy of most of his
deductions.
First. Since the very name of wal
implies that it is attended by much
that is evil, the burden of establishing
and proving the benefits of war are on
him. Second. He must show that
these benefits (if there be any exceed
the evils; in other words, that war is, al
rule, beneficial, for if the evils out
weigh the benefits, the total result il
evil, not beneficial. You are asked tt
determine, not that some particular
war or battle has been beneficial tt
civilization, but that war-the resort tt
armed violence as means of settling
disputes between nations-has beel
beneficial. He must also show to you
satisfaction that these benefits coul,
not be obtained in any other way
without being accompanied by tn
evils, because if they could have bee
so obtained-obtained in a better way
war can hardly be said to have bee
beneficial and most certainly not neces
sary.
Now keeping we'll in mind thes
essential points, let us proceed to a
examination of his argument. LOOi
ing at it as whole, before going int
details, you cannot help being impresse
by the fact that it is direct appea
not to mankind in general as the bent
ficiaries of civilization, but to you
particular, as citizens of the Unite
States of America, and is specii
effort to influence you by drawing OF
your national passions and prejudice
instead of appealing to your calm an
sober reason. Every example selecte
form link in the chain of events th'
are supposed to have led finally to tt
existence of this nation. I say "su
posed to have been," because this ide
that war and conquests have brougl
about the subsequent events is now a
exploded theory. If war was really IL
deciding factor, it would naturally fo
low that the victor would dictate Il
subsequent events. Usually, howeve
that nation which possesses the highe
civilization, whether victors or va
quished, exercises the greatest !
fiuence.