The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1913-03-21
UNIVERSAL DISARMAMENT

Mr.. Bryan, IN d recent duui COS ~
Raleigh, advocated national disarma-
ment as an initial step towards the
consummation Of permanent world
peace.
In his cabinet position as secretary
Of state which brings him into close
relationship with the civilized powers
of the world, the great commoner
may do much to further this laudable
cause. Civilization verdict is against
war, and all the nations during recent
years have discussed reduced arma-
ment. The conferences at The Hague
have furthered the movement. Ma
tions have realized more fully the
enormous cost to the tax payers
which the maintenance Of standing
armies and great nayies impose. The
burden assumed by a country like
Germany, for instance where from
three to five years must be served in
the army by every citizen, is incalcu-
liable. The soldier is withdrawn. OF
course. from productive employment,
and must be supported by the taxes
on the nation during this service. If
war is engaged in, thousands of lives
Of those who ought TO be breadwin-
ners are offered up on the altar Of pa
rriotism: more are wounded or inca
racitated. The latter not only are Of
weakened efficiency. but draw pen
sions, as do those dependent on them
after their death
Even in this country, which has not
been carried away by militarism. the
cost of army and navy and pensions
constitute about one-third the expens-
es Of the federal government These
are paid out Of high tariff rates, which
in turn are shifted on the ultimate
consumer
There can be no relief from this
crushing burden Of wars, past. pres
ent or prospective, except in univer-
sal disarmament. This would not
mean. Of course, the disarmament of
all, but a limit would be placed on
the size Of the armies and navies.
Only those necessary for the policing
Of the world would be retained. Con
ditions like those which now exist in
Mexico would probably be relieved by
concerted action on the part OF civil
i7ad DOu-arc, dapoOJo1+r IiIyo +bo~o 20
our own in the far east would be held
subject to agreement with other pow
ers for the maintenance Of order. The
civilized world cannot afford wars nor
the preparation for wars. nor can it
afford disorder and anarchy in coun-
tries not so highly developed.
No doubt Mr. Bryan will do more
than any other man who has yet lived
to promote peace, TO bring about con
cert of action in the interest of civil
iatiOn and progress all over the
world and for the promotion Of Chris
tian institutions and government in
the true sense everywhere The de-
lay in the support of Christianity has
not been due so much to the fanaticaI
adherence Of the heather to their gods
as to the unworthiness Of Christian
nations, as shown by their examples.
We could not hope for the support Of
Christianity in Africa while Christian
nations practiced the slave trade; we
could not spread real Christianity in
China while Great Britain forced the
opium traffic on the Chinese. even
though it took war our own con-
duct toward the Hawaiians was not
admirable and as long as we APP
proach the weaker races with a cross
in one hand and a whiskey bottle in
the other there will be no real prog
ress in the support Of the true Cos
pei
Mr.. Bryan has visited all the coun-
tries of the world, practically, and
knows their conditions: he does not
believe that might makes right
Chattanooga News.