The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1910-12-28
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 70, 1910.
PEACE ON EARTH.

TeACe ON H.
Announcement of the Carnegie gift
OF ten million dollars to sssist q
movement that contemplates the
abolition of intern ationsl war, comes
q IN opportune time. While millions
Of people throughout the world are
celebrating the natal day Of the Prince
of Peace. the b~enedcence to mankind
proposed by this movement should
receive universal recognition.
A resort to war is . blot upon
modern civilization. The nations OF
the earth have made wonderful pro-
gress in come respects, but in the mat.
ter Of International disputes the
methods of adjustment adopted by
savage. races from time immemorial
are the custom of today. Biblical
history records that Cain slew bis
brother Abel to settle some real or
imaginary grievance, and from that
date to the present time brute strength
has been the arbiter of disputes where
no legal method OF adjudication has
been provided.
The folly 90 we'll ss the inhumanity
Of war is acknowledged the world
over. and yet it is considered neces-
cary for every nation to prepare to
protect itself from foreign invaders
OF to assert its rights BY brute force
and modern weapons Of destruction.
A lack Of confidence In the good faith
Of each other, . suspicion that some
rival nation covets its PROPERTY,
or privileges, impels each coun.
try to provide itself with an army and
navy up to the limit of its resources.
In maintaining these immense bodies
Of men-most of the time in Q state OF
idleness-and In preparations for .
war that may or may not come, the
general public-rich and poor-sre
compelled TO bear an expense for
which there should be no excuse in
these days Of enlightenment and civil
ization.
Two citizens have a dispute about
some matter of more or less impor.
lance, and undertake to eettle the con.
troversy by demonstr atinR who 10 the
superior In brute strength or pugilis.
tic skill. One or more arrests follow,
on q charge of disturbing the peace,
and under due process OF law a penal
ty is imposed. Two nations disagree
upon q question that is supposed to
affect the welfare of each, and forth
with the fighting men of each govern.
ment are marshalled under their re.
spective commanders, and proceed to
kill or MAIN each other. The mos,
powerful contestant wins out and ite
commander is glori6ed by his fellow
country men.
Ia another case two citizens pos
sessed Of more intelligence and re-
.spect for the rights of others agree tc
submit their differences to an impair
tial tribunal, and after q patient hear
ing OF testimony presented by eacl
disputsnt, q decision based upon tn
merits Of the case is rendered and &C
cepted. Is not this . more sensible
plaza method more in harmony with
present day conditions-than the bru
to! ways of savsges? And why shoult
nc! International disputes be ADJUSTED
il similar manner?
The proposed abolition OF interna
tional war should not be an iridesceu
dream. Public opinion everywher
recognizes the folly and shame q,
tached to bloodshed as q method {
settling disputes between common
wealths. To wilfully kill q fellow.ma
is murder, whatever the nationa ALT
of the victim, and conditions that RI
Quire each government to employ vas
numbers of its citizens to take th
lives OF men hired for q similar pul
pose by another government, will nj
be indefinitely tolerated by righteol
and self-respecting communities.
"Peace on earth" as an Intern
tional emblem must ultimately preva
throughout the civilized world.