The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1914-04-02
IS UNIVERSAL
PEACE POSSIBLE?
By f. II. r.
Continued from page One)


heads of educational institutions rather than
on the military. 1t is an acknowledged fact
that to the Kaiser belongs the honor of
bringing about the treaty which closed the
recent war in the Balkans. He did this
even at the risk of losing his old ally, Aus
tria. Although peace is not yet by any
means certain in the Balkans; yet the pow
ers are doing what they can to keep it, and
Just now have united in an effort to cow the
belligerents by show of force. Each of
the great powers are sending a warshlp into
Albanian waters to show what mi ght be ex-
pected if the powers have to step in and
forcedly preserve the peace.
In our Western Hemisphere | believe the
Monroe Doctrine, which was SO ably pre-
sented to us last meeting, has been. and will
continue to be great factor in the preser-
walton of peace. The United States will
not. for moment, allow an UNI ust struggle
between two of our smaller nations and she
is bound by the Monroe Doctrine to pre-
vent struggle between one of them and a
foreign power.
George Bernard Shaw, writer and platform
orator believes that some similar doctrine
should be declared in Europe.
| Advocates European Agreement
For instance England should announce to
France and Germany that she is prepared
to support either country if it be attacked by
the other and unite them and all other Eu-
ropean nations to reciprocate. This is
seemingly good proposition and practical
as we'll. For instance Sweden believes that
Russia has desi gns on her territory above
the Baltic. In a reasonable state of affairs
the whole northwest of Europe should guar
antee Sweden against such aggression. AS
it is Sweden has no guarantee whatever, but
if such an understanding as l have suggest
ed was fact, Sweden could join in, and
her inhabitants sleep in peace. All the
smaller powers would obviously gain by
joining in, as they have practically no pow
er of aggression and very inadequate
means of defense. With such an agree
ment as a beginning, the peace of Europe
would be at once as safe as that of America,
and as soon as ample protection was afford
ed, the increase of ornaments would cease.
Some one has suggested that the United
States soldiers be employed in raising cattle
in our middle west and along this line comes
another good idea from a Canadian writer
who suggests that Canada instead
of giving $35, 1850, 600 toward the British
navy, should donate that value in wheat to
the twelve million of hungry people of
Britain who are said to be always under fed.
The peace movement has received great
impetus from the recent fghtings in Mexico
and the Balkans We had been so free
from war in the last few years that the hor-
rors of modern warfare had been forgotten,
and in their place had come the glory, pride
and pomp of the drill and dress. But now
that we are hearing so much of the actual
warfare of the present day. the thought
loses all its glamor.
When we think of the horrors and cruel
ties of the battlefield, of the widows and
orphans of those lying in unknown graves,
the feeling of pride gives way to one of pity.
Let me give you few figures from the
Balkan war, suggestive of some of its dread
tolls
The Tolls of War
| The male population of that portion of
| Macedonia allotted to Bulgaria was reduced
from LIS, 1000 to AZ, 500. In Bulgarian
Thrace 235, 900 remain out of 494, 600,
while in the district of Murstapha Pasha
only 4, 900 remain out of 33, 900 the total
before the war; When we think of these
| figures and then consider that this was a
war between comparatively small countries,
with but very few really modern impe-
| BILE what would occur if two of our great
nations should actually declare war, is it
any wonder that our great men are bending
every effort in behalf of peace. No one who
fully considers these things would think of
fighting except in self defense. Those men
whom we place in control of our armies,
should be men with deep rooted, horror
of war; men who would be willing to fight
| to put an end to war.
The greatest trouble with our modern
warlike preparedness, is, that it is full of the
glitter, pride and pomp of old fashioned
warfare. There is no true glory in war.
The killing of men even in self defense is
hideous necessity at best. If we ever have
to put men in the field, let us use men like
the followers of Him whose birthday we Gel
citrate. Men whose creed does not contain
the word, glory, men who shudder when
they think of war instead of bursting into
songs of praise over its horrible glories.
Some one has said the only war in Europe
today is the war against war. [ do not
think that any country of moment in the
world today wants war. Each one is afraid
of the other and her preparations are simply
to avoid war by keeping her defenses in such
shape that no other dare attack her. Just
as soon as any practicable plan of
disarmament is brought before the nations,
believe they shall be ready to accept it.
France, today and even England is talking
of conscription in order to keep their armies
up to the necessary standards of defense.
The European nations are fast running
themselves into bankruptcy with their mill
tary preparations. The United States is
the only nation in the world today with
enough natural resources to justify such ex-
penditures, therefore it is most fitting that
this county should be in the lead in peace
overtures with such great and noble men as
Secretary Bryan, Ex-Secl etary Root and.. An
drew Carnegie behind them.
People Demand Peace
Like any other Great Reformation, Univer-
sal Peace will be brought about mainly by
the worldwide demands of the masses. A |