Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-05-14
After the War.

peace in Europe, there Is much dis
cussion Of the subject, especially In
America, and this discussion not only
takes into consideration the matter OF
putting an end to the present war, but
practical means Of ensuring perma-
nent peace in the hereafter.
AS to when and how the present
war is going to end no man can tell
at this time: but the probability is that
it will end with the defeat Of one or
the other of the opposing combina-
tions. 1t is either that, or both sides
must fight to complete exhaustion,
with the result that the terrible strug-
gle will become a temporary draw to
be resumed along bushwhacking lines
probably for years to come.
With all the talk there has been
about unstable and revolutionary
ary Central and South America, it is
a fact that Europe for centuries back,
as far in the past as history goes, has
been the most quaTelsome continent
on earth, and there is very little
ground for believing that the situation
will ever be different until there has
been a real establishment Of genuine
Christian civilization.
The principle, or rather the rule OF
ito the victor belongs the spoils," has
obtained throughout the ages. and just
as spoils was probably the cause of
the first war, spoils have been the
cause of almost every war that has
occurred since, including the great
war now in progress. In like man.
ner the question as to whether the
present great war will really bring
about future stability in Europe is 60
ing to depend entirely upon the man.
ner in which the matter Of spoils is
disposed Of
While it is not our purpose to go
into details to prove it at this time, we
will for the purpose Of present argu-
ment, say that spoils was the cause OF
our own great Civil war, and whether
there is dissent from that or not, ev-
cry reasonable reader who Is acquaint-
ed with the historical facts will have
to agree that except for the manner
in which the spoils question was set
tied, the bitterness Of that war would
not have ended to this day.
Our great Civil war was settled not
by bitterly partisan congress; 'bqt by
two great soldiers. At AppomattoX
General Grant proposed terms that no
bitterly partisan congress would have
ever consented to, and General Lee
was great and brave enough to accept
them on his own responsibility, SIM
ply because he knew they were right.
General Grant asked for nothing but
peace, and General Lee accepted his
terms. Afterward when bitterly par
tisan non-combatant congressional
leaders sought to repudiate General
Grants terms that grand old soldier
gave it to be understood that unless
congress kept the faith, he would draw
his mighty sword in defense of his
soldierly honor.
If ever in the history of the world
Jesus Christ has served as the ac-
knowledged referee Of two great gen.
oii tSiiiS VI PCdSC, nc was lHS
third party to the deliberations at Ap-
pomattoX.
The horrible conditions following
the war-the injustices and out
RACES Of the reconstruction period
are chargeable to a bitterly partisan
congress, but few members Of which
ever smelled powder, and 1t was Pres
ident Grant who at last helped to give
relief by allowing the seating OF
Hampton.
The common rule in European wars
Is to make the defeated nation pay al
expenses Of the victorious nation, and
always the victorious nation has de-
manded far more than the defeated
nation thought was right. The injus-
tice has ranked in both sides until
eventually it would cause another del
uge of blood.
If at the end of this horrible war,
no matter which side wins, the win
ming side will say, "Now let's leave II
where it is and not hold each other
further accountable for anything that
has occurred before or during this
war;" there will be such peace as the
world has never seen before. and II
will be worth more to all the nations
than all the wealth all Of them have
ever had or ever will have.
The same old usage, however, Is 60
ing to bring about the same old re-
suits.