Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-10-18
4 Cleansing Crusade or
f. f. B 1 candle, g 4 Polluting Peace

John Ruskin says, THE common notion
that peace and the virtues of civil life
flourish together, I find to be wholly I'M
tenable. Peace and the vices of civil life
only flourish together" He goes on to
say, Great nations learned their truth
of word and strength of thought In
war. They were nourished in war and
wasted by peace; taught by war and
deceived by peace; trained by war and
betrayed by peace"
1t is not difficult to perceive the truth,
at which he aims in these words, which
at first sight rather shock our moral SEN
sibilities. During eras of peace the pro-
ductive powers of men are put forth in
acquiring material goods. Their motives,
thereby, become selfish and the fruit of
their toll is seen in luxuries that enfee-
BILE and in self-indulgence that ener-
Yates. They seek physical comfort, ard
their heroic virtues decay with the en-
joyment of inglorious ease.
on the other hand, in war men turn
away from dainty living. They endure
hardships and incur perils for a cause
which they account dearer than life. They
forget gain and turn away from mer-
chandise in order that they may contend
for interests which they esteem above
all price.
.
Peace tends to pollute while war, WIN
all its horrid features, tends to evoke
the heroic virtues and inspire men to
self-sacrifice.
If this view be correct. we live In an
age of perilous peace. More and more
the world is turning away from war.
In a hundred years the nations of
Christendom have settled by arbitration
more great issues than all the wars of
all the centuries ever before settled.
For example, the United States and
Great Britain have not been at war with
each other since the war of 1S12-nearly a
century ago. During these hundred years
of peace they have settled by arbitration
the Behring Sea dispute. 1.-THE Alabama
Claims" contention, and the New Found
land fisheries question, not to mention
many other issues of less moment. In
the eighteenth century any one of these
great matters would have plunged these
great nations into the bloodiest of con-
flicts. The war of 1872 did not involve
half so much as was settled by the
Genevan arbitration. If the spirit which
prevails now had been prevalent in the
days of Mr.. Jefferson's administration
there would have been no war in 1872
The pacific conditions of modern times
are due in part to the necessities of mod
ern commerce and in part to the potency
of modern instruments of transporta-
ton, communication, and war. The ma
tions are all neighbors. They talk with
each other every morning by telephones
and kilograms. Their nationals travel
by swift-flying ships, and fast trains,
around the world, and form international
friendships and attachments. They can
not afford to fight one another; 1T would
interrupt trade to do so, and a contest
now between the armies of two great
powers would mean almost mutual an
inhalation
Over and above all tn csc considerations
the pacifying influence of Christianity is
penetrating all lands in a greater or less
degree The Prince of Peace is COM
manding the war drums to cease beating
and is dispensing the forces of unchris-
tian militancy.
Hence we see the Hague Court set
up-the greatest tribunal Of all the ages.
w thout a sheriff to enforce its Judge
ments. an invisible but invincible spirit
of Justice executes it's decisions. The
spectacle of such a court is truly sub
lime.
We may be sure that war will be more
and more infrequent, and that the pc
RODS of peace VIII be more and more
prolonged. And during these stretches
of peace the nations will grow rich as
never before They are already opu-
lent immeasuEably beyond anything
known to the ancient world. Wealth, as
we see it, is a modern thing. Its bulk
LII grow rapidly greater by means OF