The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1951-04-12
Fucts and Fdncies
BY-Hdzel Pedse
IN SEARCH OF PEACE
(%continued)

IN SEARCH OF PEACE
(continued)
Every conflict, at its origin,
is a matter between only two
persons. One person may be
using force against the other.
or trespassing on his property.
If this conflict cannot be stop
ped in any other manner, a
murder may occur. The out
come would be no more serious
than the loss of one life, un-
less somebody intercedes who
is not directly concerned.
Conflict grows, then, as a re-
suit of anything which causes
opposing sides of any contro-
verSy to amaSS into growing
numbers. The larger the num-
Der, the greater and bloodier
the conflict becomes.
We can see how this works
by observing a football game.
Someone violates the rules and
two players start to battle it
out. If all % players Joined in,
the conflict would become ser
ious. What if 100000 spectators
joined in?
I was deeply impressed by a
scene in a recent movie. Two
contenders for the kingship of
a, tribe of uncivilized "Savages'
in the deepest recesses of At
RIGA were in conflict for pos
ession of the throne. Finally,
the two contenders battled it
out to the death. The other
members of the tribe laid their
preferences and their weapons
aside and all stood on the side
lines as observers. They had
learned that if other than the
two persons concerned were to
join in the battle, there would
be unnecessary bloodshed. I'm
civilized? Perhaps we would be
more humane and civilized if
we were to resolve the present
world conflict, in some such
manner-at least, a "victor" by
combat could be selected with
out so much bloodshed and de-
Struction of property.
There would always be some
conflict even among a free
people but it would be small
and localized. There would be a
murder now and then, but
death would not be nearly as
prevalent as from the mass
conflict of major wars.
A neighborhood Squable be-
tween two persons in China,
for instance, might lead to one
of them numbering the other,
But if We are left to use our
individual Judgment, not many
of us would volunteer in behalf
of one or the other and cause
it to grow into a war. Num-
bers do not become amassed
that way into a major conflict,
unless persons are forced to
join in.
True, there are always some
volunteers in foreign wars. In
fact, fighting in foreign wars
used to be an accepted hired
occupation. But this sort of
thing never became prevalent
enough to be featured in his
tory books.
It is a fact that small con-
flict develops into major war
only as a result of involuntary
servitude. We can see this much
better if we look at dictator"
nations.
There is no escaping the fact
that some men have a lust for
power. And war or the threat
of war seems. to surpaSs all
other. devices by which a ruler
can induce the people to en-
slave themselves under his
leadership to- lose their lib
erty and all rights of choice to
answer to his beck and. call.
Power becomes concentrated at.
one end of a long line of auth
GRITTY, which at the other end
terminates in complete subser-
Vience on the field of battle.
Edward Burke said that loss
of liberty always occurs under
some delusion". BY some
strange twist of reasoning, fear
of losing liberty drives persons
to enslave themselves and sur
render liberty in the hope of
keeping it. It is argued that
this is necessary ito protect
the people," How can slavery
make them any more brave?
This presumes the people to
be too ignorant or cowardly to
act voluntarily in their own
behalf; that they must be fore
ed to protect themselves. It is
a strange notion that I should
be compelled by others to pro-
tect myself. This self protec-