The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1907-05-04
WAR.

While all must admire the sentiment Of peace
advocates and cherish forever the memory of the
first meeting of the International Peace congress
1t is very doubtful if war will become lost art as
long geographical lines separate the interests of
the people of nation from those of another. or
as long civil strife, riot and fomeas neighbor-
hood quarrels, feuds and personal encounters stir
up the wrath of the people one against another
The human family is great deal like the lower
animals in a wild state; one lives and prospers
through strength and power while another gives up
the ghost with paintive moan all to the principle
Of the survival of the fttest In ancient times the
fttest among humanity were the strongest of limb
and stoutest of heart, and this remains true to
certain extent to the present time. But the forces
discovered by mankind-guns cannon, battleships,
explosives of varying degrees of intensity-have
somewhat changed the measure of fitness from mus
cular strength to brain power We must give credit
to the motives which prompt peace societies to
meet and discuss war, with the object of its proven
ton. for doubt through their efforts some mortal
combat will have been taken from the world but We
cannot believe the first meeting of the peace con
gresS initiates the thousand years of peace, much
as we would desire it, We have not yet reached the
ideaHstic civilization which will accept the ideas
of the peace promoters, for the heroes of war still
retain strong influence upon the minds of growing
generations, and statues still teach their lessons Of
patriotism to initiative humanity.
Civilization and public safety are dependent on
a general observance of laws which have been en-
acted to promote peace There are few restless
spirits now-maybe more than most of us dare be-
lieve-whose good behavior is enforced upon them
through fear of the law, and whose defiance of the
law brings upon them the power which the majority
has provided that public safety might be assured
A few years ago the great west was in the lands
of an element which resisted authority and knew
no law but the law of might. Today the same rest
less ferment breaks out in cities and in mining
camps, wherever men congregate and are deluded
by visions of social equality based upon The dc
structon of all the wisdom of government which is
the heritage of the ages. AS long as these out
breaks occur, peace must be enforced by weight of
arms or laws and boosted civilization will have
short shrift As the legions of imperial Rome pre-
served the peace wide area so in the present
day do armies, navies, militia and police forces hold
in check the execution of the wild plans engendered
by passion which sound reasoning or pleading
can allay. The pirate was not reached through anv
pretty truism, and mobs and rioters and sediticus
agitators who menace the law fear not the power
of Christian pleading much as regiment of dis,
ciplined soldiery.
Let the forces Of law defiance once gain ascen-
dency and the footing and burning of our towns
and villages and the murder of our citizens will
once show the need of organized forces to
enforce the law and peace and on the sea pratical
crafts will become menace to commerce. The
world has not advanced in the social scale sufi-
cicntly to warrant disarmament, though the 6msy
pretezts uron which some international wars have
been based furnish ample reason for the existence