The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1907-04-27

men, furnish practical ideas and advocate peace by
soaring the life out of any who would oppose their
will by the display Of big guns, and big battle
ships and big regiments of soldiers with big gen
erals with big brass b,:ttons their clothes They
don't want war, but they count on the military and
naval strength of their nation to make the other
fellow realize the futihty of attacking them On
the other hand are the men of peace who express
admirable sentiments and pretty platitudes and
passionately tell us that is not for civilized ma
tons to consider international differences. thew
say, should be adjusted by conferences of the ag-
grieved parties but it is much easier to shoot up
few battleships to make the other fellow come to
our way of thinking. The business interests come
in for their share of the troubles. War would make
prices go up and markets for steel and foodstuffs
would be broadened, so they, while pretending
horror for battle, contribute only meagery toward
its prevention if they do not actively encourage it,
In discussing war and the causes Of war. it is
impossible to separate the individual from the ma
ton If the present movement for peace is born of
earnest desire for the prevention of war; it is but
reflection of the desire of individuals who realize
the futility of the legazed slaughter of the young
of the world to bring about reform Nations
are born in blood and have been perpetuated by the
shedding of blood National boundaries all have
been established after fight though why the IL.
terests of the children of God should be different
because river separates their homes, or why an
intervening ocean should make nation an en-
envy OF another has never been explained.
War is but the natural result of an antagonism
of interests of individuals Its prevention lies only
in the mitigation of this antagonism. How this
may be accomplished without reversing the ac-
cepted ideas upon which every government is based
and upsetting the whole system of earthly govern
ment and inaugurating one worldwide nation it is
difficult to comprehend It is not probable that ma
tional lines will ever be obliterated but in the
broadening of treaties between nations, in putting
territorial ACKNOWLEDGEMENT under the ban and in
holding conferences between nations at which the
brotherhood of man may find expression, lie the
fundamentals upon which the hope of international
peace may at last grow to fruition.
Sentiment against war must grow, for when it
is carried to its final analysis it is sentiment which
makes and bloody conflicts possible. Profit to
the high hnanciers who furnish funds at exorbtant
rates TO carry on the wars is potent cause which
sentiment must overcome. If the peace congress
gives an impetus to the growth of sentiment, it
has been worth while Sensible and humane meth
DDS of settling international differences will never
be realized without some such movement, and if
the dreamers can secure the cooperation of the
Shylocks, nations can escape the a'power behind
the throne" or wa is made improbable to the
money lenders in some other way, the statesmen
may find some practical solution for disputes which
threaten the peace of nations. The practical ac-
complishment of the peace congress may not have
been great; but the simple fact that the congress
was held and participated in by many nations
is triumph and marks an epoch in the growth of
Christian civilization.