The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-05-14

mon hurna nifty. True 1t is that the
operation of war has yielded to the
humanizing spirit of progress. The
cruclties of former years no longer
exist. AS one writer summarizes them:
"Non-combatants are now spared, wo-
men and children are no longer mas
sacred. quarter is given and prisoners
are not given over to pillage; private
property on land Is exempt: poisoned
wells, assassination of rulers and COM
manders by private bargains and de-
ceptive agreements are infamies OF
the past
Barbarian of War
The recital of this list shows the de-
grading and debas!ng barbarism of ma
tional conflicts that obtained until but
very recently. While these were per-
haps its foulest features, the deeper
shadows in the dark cloud that has
overhung the human horizon, yet its
sombre and sinister shadow has by no
means passed away.
War Is still war. the direst. bitterest.
costliest curse that civilization still
permits to wiring its heart and curber
its upward progress. Against all other
evils an enlightened conscience is wag-
Ing determined warfare. Against war
alone 1T lays down its arms and sur
renders Its sway. Plaques and pcsti-
fences have been fought and almost
conquered by the resources of modern
skill and the noble impulse OF con-
certed public conscience. While spora-
die cases occur. yet we do not fear a
widespread devastation of any OF them
as when. during the middle ages half
the population of Europe dropped as
so many flies that had fed on poisoned
dainties. The bubonic plague, Asfatic
cholera. yellow fever. as eptdemics. are
spectres of the past Diphtheria is no
longer tho fearful scourge OF the
nursery. Typhoid fever is getting
more and more under control. as adj
vanced communities learn to safeguard
the supplying sources of food and
drink and to guard against the origins
of infection.
The world is taking up arms against
the modern white plague tuberculosis.
1t will not be long before It's rayages
are checked Civic and national prob
lens, the social evil and Its most hor-
rible accompaniment. the white slave
traffic, ignorance. Incidence, chronic
,pauperisn, peonage. sweat shops, child
labor. factory dangers. tenement house
perils, all these things are being made
the subjects of municipal. national and
interna tional attention and legislation.
On every hand is civilized society maxi
ing determined efforts to preserve the
dignity, the honor and the safety of
human life
Denf to Coincidence.
In one direction only does it relax its
moral vigilance, Is it deaf to the call
OF conscience, to the arguments Of eco
nomic and social progress. This is in
the direction Of national conflict.
Strange inconsistency here, too. 1t
will strain the resources of civiliza
ton to bind the wounds of war. but
1T makes feeble. If any. protest against
the waging of war.
Men will be impressed by the arsu-
ments and figures that tell OF the an
palling waste of human life and en-
ergy. and of the tremendous economic
loss that Is entailed In the various
social ills that have mentioned They
will lend themselves and their aid in
the movement to alleviate and correct
them.
But in single rash impulse of na-
tional rage, in mobilize fury OF re-
sentiment agaInsA fancied insult to
national honor or check to national
the years of patient peace. bring about
In single year a greater human and
economic loss than all the other Ills
that exist, cause more sorrow and dcs-
olation and entail a burden that gen
erations after them must stasger
under,
What Is the remedy? Simply this
one thing an awakened. pnbllc con
science, a recognition of the right of
to peace, an nsistcnt moral
right that neither the pride of kings
nor the pioue of the nations them
selves. nor the greed Of commerce. nor
the lust TOR territory shall he able tn
deny, This recognition must he not
merely individual hut national and
There must we'll m
from the heart5of Worldwide hn-g
manlty the call of Israel's great.
prophet OF old, Peace. peace to him!