The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-04-20

/ going to war. There are also weak
nations so utterly incompetent either
10 protect the rights OF foreigners
against their own citizens, or to pro-
tect their own citizens gfinst for
eigners, that IL becomes a matter OF
sheer duty for some outside power
10 interfere in connection with them.
As yet in neither case Is there any
enhcient method OF getting interna-
tional action. and il joint action by
several powers IL secured. the result
Is usually considerably worse than
II only one power interfered. The
worst infamies Of modern times-such
affairs as the massacres of the Ar
menians by the Turks. for instance
have beer perDetrated in a time OF
nOminally profound international
peace, when there has been. con-
cert OF big powers TO prevent the
breaking OF this peace, although only
by breaking IL could the outrages be
stopped. BE IL remembered that the
peoples who suffered by these hide
Gus massacres. who saw their women
violated and their children tortured
! were actually enjoying all the bene-
| hts OF disarmament" Otherwise
they would not have been massacred
for II the Jews in Russia and the Ar
menians in Turkey had been armed.
and had been efficient in the use OF
I
died with them.
Yet amiable but fatuous persons.
! with all these facts before their eyes,
pass resolutions demanding universal
arbitration Tor everything. and the
disarmament Of the free civilized pow.
ers and their abandonment OF their
armed forces: or else they write well.
meaning. solemn little books. or pam.
/ phlets or editorials. and articles In
magazines or newspapers. to show
mat " Is an illusion" 10 believe that
var ever pays. because 10 Is expensive.
Z This IL precisely like arguing that We
should disband the police and devote
our sole attention TO persuading Grim.
mails that u b. IAN Illusion" 10 sup.
pose that burglary. highway robbery
and white slavery are profitable. n is
almost useless 10 attempt TO argue
with these well.intentioned persons
because they are suffering under an
o6session and are not open 70 reason
/ They 90 wrong az the outset. FOR they
/ lay all the emphasis on peace and
none ~ at on righteousness They
are not al ~ them physically tlmid
men. but they are usually men OF soft
2 NE ana they rarely possess n high
sense OF honor or a keen patriotism.
I They rarely try TO prevent their fcL
/ low-countrymen from insuiijog ~,
! WronEing the people Of other nations.
/ but they always ardently advocate
I that We. IN our turn. shall tameIy sub.
NIT 10 wrong and must insult other
nations A. Americans their folly IL
! peculiarly scaudaloua. because m tho
principle. they now uphold are right.
I u mans that % would have been better
that Americans should never have
achieved their independence. and hot.
Ter that. In 1851. they should have
peacefully submitted TO seeing their
country split into half a dozen iangilne
confedcracios and slavery made por.
petual If unwilling 20 learn from
I their own history. let those who think
I that % On an Illusion" 10 believe that
p war ever benefits nation look al
J the difference between China and Ia.
pan. China has neither n fleet nor an
ehicient army. II e. n huge civilized
empire. one ~ the most populoue on
tho globe; and q has been tho HELPLESS
I prey ~ outsiders because In doe moi
POSSESS The power 10 FIGHT Jaran
stands on a footing 81 equality with
European and American nations be.