Arizona republican., 1911-12-23
War and Christian anity.

When the true record of the Taft administration shall have been writ ten il will be found that its claim to enduring fame will not be because "t any trust war or attempt at reel procity agreements. nor vet because of courageous vetoes of bills believed by the executive to he vicious and unsafe The fame of President Taft win be founded ou his high minded aim to promote the peace of the world
 Whatever may he said of President Tart he certainly is not an oppor- tunist His fight for arbitration, as a means of settling international dis putes. is not the kind Of light to get him anything" in q political sense. The purpose is too lofty. the ideal too nigh for that The question is an academic rather than a political question: and while the action Of the executive is the brave act Of a brave man. it will not help get him the electoral vote of a single state
 And in that the action is all the more worthy. The lofty ideals of President Taft on the subject of world peace are above and beyond the ideals of the average politician, to whom jingoism. if only it means q few votes. is embraced with all lhe fervor of demagogic enthusiasm. The president has set an example that the rulers of all nations might well follow.
 But that they will not follow that example, at least not yet, has been forcibly demonstrated of late. Rus sia, which for generation has sought an excuse for extending her empire in western Asia, is raising d deal Of dust over the situation in Persia and war there seems inevit- able. And Russia is a party to the Hague agreement.
 But the most striking discrepancy between the theory and practice of arbitration is furnished by Italy winch. three months ago. began q war of conquest against Turkey. There was no reason for the war eX- cept that Italy wanted slice of Tripoli and didn't see any way to get it except by the murder of a few thousand Turks and Arabs. So the murder business was promptly started.
 That's all there is to it-simply murder on a rather large scale. And ii is the meanest kind of murder murder for the sake Of material gain. It is just as well to call these things by their right names.
 And think of the shame of it all. Italy. a Christian nation, wasinG an unprovoked war against a weaker na- ton. whose people happen to accept the Mohammedan faith. Just now, when the Christmas season is ap- preaching and in the hundreds 0f churches throughout the Italian king dom they are singing the hymns of love and peace and Christian faith, il is an inspiring reflection to re- member that our boasted Christianity is held so cheaply that it is kicked into the street the moment national aggrandizenent knocks at the door.
 Italy subscribed 10 the Hague agreement She soiennly pledged her honor that she would submit her disputes 10 arbitration. But she has broken her word and has al the same time violated every article of the religious faith to which she pre- tends adherence.
 It is a most edifying spectacle for the contemplation of beathendom. In the face Of history such as this what a mockery it is for Italy to tall; about the worlds evangeliZation.
 A couple of days hence the church bells in Italy will ring out Peace on earth, toward all TIen. good will But of course the patriotic Italian will except the Turks from the lat ter part of that pious eShOrtation.