The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-04-14

minds of the people everywhere un-
iii effect is given to the worldwide |
desire for the establishment of some |
means for the settlement of national
disputes In some other manntf t1all ,
by the employment of cruel TO. cS. ann /,
through some instrumentalitl HAlcI |
shall lift from the backs "a the |
people the mighty burden which pre-
parations for war and which wars
impose.
Judge the vast and complicated m.
! terests of the people In their tNdi-
vidual affairs may not cor rs wits
equal confidence be trus' ed to ssitSs
fully consider and de .erN,ine the in.
terests of the people. ia their national
capacity? In principle there can be
no reason for court in the one case
which does not apply with equal force
in the other. The nrethoa by which
linternattona, tribunals should be con-
stituted, aNd their procedure would
naturally differ; but in every essen
tiai principle they would he abso-
lutely the same.
There are those who believe that
armies and navies are necessary to
maintain the national spirit and that
, without them some sort Of degener-
acy would OccBr in the patriotism
land Virility Of the people. If tbs
danger of international conflict is re-
moved, the energies of the people vii
toontinue TO Snd countless avenues fo
their exercise and there need be n!
fear of decadence in their rugged
manhood,
Wars are too often due to mere
personal intrigue, regardless of the
. desires OR interests of the many
do not believe that the future peace
h of the world is in danger from those
+ who must in the final analysis beal
the burden-and the burden rests a!
D rule upon those who are least able
| to carry it; the danger will come
. from those who expect to gain per
sOnal or political advantage there
a from. Cabinets have in the past in
I vited war to heal divisions and aver
being wrecked. They have counted
) upon the solidifying influence of wa
h Upon the body polite, Rulers in TIL
q past have welcomed war which tend
ed to arouse the national spirit. Her
= lies the chief peril to future peace
s the greed of personal aggrandize
/. ment of the few, political or part
!" eXigency. Unbridled selfish ambition
l. understands full well how easily tn
martial spirit is fired. Men who pu
their personal interest above thei
a country's when clothed with powe
q may artfully invite zeal or imaginar
j.. affront and create a casus bell
wi Take out of the problem of wa
the factor of political ambition an
the influence of men who expect I
is fatten upon contracts and the wreck
IS age which war produces and VIII
v wish to win mere personal renowr
u and war would come but seldom. TIL
IS great mass would rarely invite Il
IT and no one can impeach their patriot
l. ism or their moral or physical cour
J. age.
% While our theme is an old one,
10 has not become academic, for it
Il, one of colossal present Importance
A moral responsibility rests upon til
IL foremost nations, and that is to lea
s. the way towards preserving tn
n worlds peace so far as it is possibl
& to maintain it through the wisdor
% and foresight of patriotic men. Christ
d ian civilization and the permanent
Of peace of the world demand interna
is tional arbitration, and reduction c
= and limitation upon armament"
IS These are wise words and contai
ii and all other great powers. The il,
i, creasing interest in the peace move
F. ment is not an indication of weakness
n or effeminacy but rather a CROWN
- belief that justice will be obtaine
t, more impartially by arbitration tina
i55 by war, and that the revenues of
nation can be expended more wisel
d for education, good roads, and til
;, reclamation of waste places than 10
d armies and battleships.