The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1915-02-06

y w.
rnilitarist because he, wants armies
and navies, but because he wants his
country to have things which the
claims OF justice do not uphold, and
which can only be gained by force Of
arms. .%. .'. ~,
i. ,Force-superior fforce-the ability
to meet and master any opponent to
whom We are unwilling to accord full
justice, Is the only logical refuge when
We once adopt a patriotism that asks
for something better than, square
deal. =,
In this same article about the Mon
roe Doctrine. Mr.. Roosevelt says:
I'm this country there is not the
slightest danger Of an over-develop-
ment Of warlike spirit, and there
never has been such a danger. o.. :
Preparation for war Is the surest
guarantee Of peace.
Popular sentiment is just when. i:
selects as popular heroes the men who
have led In the struggle against NAL
ice domestic or foreign levy. No tri-
umph Of peace is quite 80 great as the
supreme triumphs of war.
There are higher things in this life
than the soft and easy enjoyment OF
material comfort. It Is through strife
or the readiness for strife, that a ma
ton must win greatness" -.
We have here, as in the writings OF
Bernhard, a strong tendency to be-
lieve that war Is not necessary evil
so much as a desirable course Of ma
tional training, which counterbalances
the soft and easy enjoyment of mater
ial comfort and results in. honor and
Colonel Roosevelt and
General Won Bernhard are, beth vic;
Tins Of a common error. To. the mind
of each of them there are apparently
presented. two alternatives; On the
tone hand, a nation without war, sunk
in materialisn, and 1.-THE other hand,
"a nation trained hardened and en-
.nobled. by war; There are higher
things" says Mr.. Roosevelt, :'than the
soft and easy enjoyment OF material
comfort. It Is through strife, or. the
must win greatness" '.God will see to
it," quotes Bernhard, THAT. war al
ways recurs as a drastic medicine for
the human race .,E
I The falseness Of such a. position is
evident. Neither In this or any other
country are the majority Of the people
sunk In the "soft and easy ruling
class and the bourg eoisie are perhaps
to some extent softened by conditions
OF luxury and the lack Of keen strug-
gle: but the great mass Of the citizens
Of all countries do not lack struggle
in their lives. And 1t 81 because Mr..
Roosevelt and General Won Bernhard
see lift In ternns Of the ruling, class
or Of the bourgeoisie. rather, than ezin
terms Of the majority OF tho people,
that they believe the war element Is
necessary and potent alternative.
which civilization can i'll afford to dis
pense with. AS a mattersof actual
fact, there is no example, either In
present or. ancient history, OF ths
thing which the militarists fear-the
sapping of the strength Of the people
themselves through luxury. What
country can be mentioned where the
| average man exists In, such luxury
and with such d lack OF struggle az
to make him soft and helpless? Does
i Me-: Roosevelt believe that this is the
case in the United States today. =.
Peace Not War. ~:
AS a, matter of fact the proof tina,
modern life is not lacking in. struggle
sufficient to develop fighting: qualities
is so abundant: and obvious that II
hardly. needs comment. It. is only nee,
essary to cite the case Of the people
Of Belgium In order. to set at rest the
theory that unWar1lkeness degener:
ates a nations morale. Neither milit.
ary life, nor. the maintenancezof-t thai
war spirit which the militarists..valus
l:so much, makes modern soldiers sgtf1
Ecient. It Is rather the steadta1te our,
age and endurance whichsthe average
man has gained in the,scowpetftiyt
struggle. or existene 1iieh .5sSss isafxs,
modern nations their. wpnd erfui fight
Ing = powers 2 The < assertion tina
Through laceK ofss VAL i s III war sptri
this clement Of rngg1e will dlsap
pear III the:Uniteds States brs Ssernlallrst;y
or any other COUNT I'll atHszaa.a1.
Eof nollycod dl viii be athe result, &!
Eso thoroughly cont overted ss:hY -fact,
1:asst he almost alnwoffhys of .cnnstd
GRAFTON. e what -. ndseesssaIiy;i for til,
human race. Is: peace not wars Ant
! peaee,7canf1ot': be assured sby :strifa o1
the, psychic st peac,
will only exist when the cause So wa