The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1911-05-25
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By E ]. I

JOSH Billings, or Mark Twain
might have said that the reason for
the monstrous navies of today was.
as an assurance to the various ma
tions of International Peace.
Many articles on this very impor-
tant subject have appeared in the
/ various newspapers and magazines
throughout the country, and many
earnest and strongly sympathetic
people have urged one form or an
other by which to firmly establish
condition of world peace. But it
seems to me that the efforts expend-
ed toward such an end have, thus
far, resulted in the getting hold upon
the tail of the animal, when the grip
was intended for the horses-or
words to that effect.
But brief review of history will
perhaps show us another and per-
manent way in which this approach
ing to ideal condition, could the
more expeditiously be carried into
effect.
We observe that discomfort. ieal-
ousy, and avarice are the most prom
inent.
Discomfort acting as the loadstone
for the other two. we have but to-
notice that its origin possibly ante
dates the first wiggle of Darwin's
Jelly-pulp Man; or the Biblical
Cain, as form of natures restless
activity, so that from the known
facts we are able to follow this in
dividual possession to an en- masse''
or national state as developed in the
time of the founding Of the first Ro-
man Empire.
Discomfort likewise was the prime
factor back of the emigrated. who
have explored and then settled the
new countries; for from England
have come those seeking religious
freedom; from the German Empire
those desirous of freeing themselves
of the despotism of military servi-
tude; from the old France those fee
ing the oppression of the nobility;
from Italv because of the poverty of
the prOvincials. And when through
the industry of the emigrated a
prosperous condition had come to
pass, and the news of the value of
this or that country's natural re-
sources became generally known,
then did that feeling of jealousy,
and finally avarice, come the ma
tions abroad.
Those wonderful tales of immense
wealth spread broadcast; first by the
many vovagers, then by the settlers
themselves, acted as "thorns in the
side" and as spurs propitiating
the onset of the hounds of conquest.
and made provocative of forced
submission to the one or the other
OF the mighty ones, those infant re-
publics or settlements. The results
have, as general rule, been any
thing but beneficial to the struggling
settlements. In fact, history's pages
are replete with pictures of the de-
vastation wrought (If the power
OF few over one individual were
exerted in similar manner it would.
today, result either in a burning at
the stake, hanging, or hurry away
TO penitentiary; but as a national
indulgence-well that is different
proposition).
The haggled map Of the magnifi-
cent continent of Africa is evidence
of the retarding effects of conquest:
for in practically every case, the
desire is merely TO gain control that
revenues be added to the bank ac-
count of the nation so conquering.
The very last effort to develop these
colonial possessions is shown all
through; and when such splendid
results could have been achieved.
only the most meager scratching of
the surface is to be observed.
But for the Monroe Doctrine. our
own great republic would have be-
come much "hemmed inn bit of
terra firma;" for with the rapacious
greed OF the European powers. Can
ada. Mexico and our prosperous Sis
ter Republics of the southern conti-
nent would have been SO split asun-
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