Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-04-02
INSPIRATION or GREAT Up
IIEiNAI.S.

tifAfl Ms
From the college professors we
have heard for several years that all
great uphoavals Of humanity haye
their origin Ia economic dissatlsfac-
ton, but history does not bear out
this assertion
Many vast movements have oc-
cured. the motive force of which
has been supplied by religion. We
cannot suppose that Arabia was over
populated at the time her armies. I'M
der the banner Of the camel driver
of Mecca. went forth to conquer east
ward even into india and westward
Into spain Nor DO we discover IN
The Crusadcs that preepitated the
might Of western Europe upon the
safacen empire OF the east any eco
monte inspiration. Christian Europe
desired the ideal achievement Of re-
covering the tomb Of tho Savior from
the profaning hands of the Moham-
medana
There have been, also, in human
history movements OF great moment
aud consequence which represented
nothing other than lust Of conquest
aud desire for loot. Such move
ment wits that Of the Mongols which
swept westward to Moscow. and
southwark over Mesopotamia and
into India, as well az eastward across
China The successive invasions
which india has sustained, Afghan,
Persian. Moslcm. Mongol and Britt
ish. have been conquests for robbery
OF enrichment. Each conquest was
effected. comparatively, By small
band who remained to rule aud to ex-
nloit NOT 20 coionIze. and therefore
DUST native ocoupcrs.
Hut % third class Of movements
thnae Of tribes, peoples nations. emil
grants ANA immigrants. have entah.
lished the real foundations Of history
ana have changed the face of tho
earth The barbarlaus who pressed
upon the Roman empire and finally
overthrow 1t, incidentally looted and
lordcd. but principally ohevcd the
uremg of pressure which induced
them to conquer in order to settle.
slats. Hams. Firms, nulears pushed
AGAINST the Germanic tribes. who ia
turn pushed upon the Roman empire.
The barbarian invasion resulted from
pressure Of population. az did the Eu-
ropean settlement of the new world
discovered by Columbus. and that
pressure Is continuing after four
centuries
We conceive OF a civilization. minus
The inspiration Of religion. as con.
qnering incentive We may hope Tor
IA civilization which shall restrain the
ambition for conquest on the part
Of monarchs and castles. But no de-
vice of civilization that can be pro-
posed has powor TO mitigate the me-
cessity for expansion that arises from
otef-population ana under-supply
That necessity operated before has,.
tory commenced, and It's scope is
wider today IN the twentieth century
than ever before
There may be- remedy. but Il
may prove worse than the disease
Indeed. the nation which applies H.
being an isolated praetlcer. impeuls
Its existence. AS France, whose forty
millions nre confronted hy sixty five
million Germans
Moreover II there are no moral ana
social objections to the remedy. it is
impractical unless all the nations to-
eether adopt it. There can Doe no
change uf such universal adoption.
THE most civilized nations adopting
ii literally commits suicide in favor Of
the less civilized races, such as the
Chinese
We Americans faiter ourselves
that Use possess a higher national mo-
raliis Than others do. and our presi-
dent confidently announces that the
Dnitod states never viii annex anoth-
Ct square mile. The illusion Is per
Hons Just now We are satisfied
nation with plenty OF room, and hav-
ing no Incentive otherwise we fancy
ourselves moral He who has no
temptation always assumes that his
morality Is superior TO that Of the
sinner who has temptations and Yields
TO them.
We are not only a satisfied ma
ton. bat We think other nations are
also. or ought TO be- whereas. many
Of them are not. and cannot b. Fur
thAmore, We may not be satisfied