Year: 1870

THE PROPOSED DISARHfhb'


We would not attribute too much Importance
to the Cable reports which we have again, OF
late been receiving from Paris, to the cnect
that France. acting this time in concert Win
ENGLAND and Russia, has resumed her attempts
90 brino obout a general disarming'-
which is meant, of course, merely I'M
;tod reduction of the military establishments
of the different Governments. 1t is always i'm
nled in these statements that Prussia is
the Power which must begin this work
1t was reported in one of our recent dls-
matches that England and Russia had agreed
to make proposition therefor to the Prus-
sian Government This was followed by
the report that the French Emperor was about
TO send Special Mission to Berlin to propose
a General European Congress "a measure
doubtless meant to be the means of cOnsumma-
ting the scheme of disarming; and lately
we were informed by Cable that the En-
peror would soon send to st. Petersburg
that frequently recalcitrant but always
useful relative, Prince Napoleon, to exer-
else his talents in urging the carrying out
of the scheme. A few months ago, the french
Government itself made some slight show OF
army reduction; but the official organs pres
emily announced that the work could not
be further prosecuted unless Prussia gave
practical proof of her willingness to follow the
example of France. The Prussian Government
however instead of showing its desire for dis
arming under existing circumstances, has
taken the ground that there can be no reduc-
ton of the Prussian military establishment
while the French Emperor maintains the posi-
ton he assumed three years ago concerning the
necessity for rectfcation of the Rhine frontier


In the interest of the toiling and army ridden
millions of Europe, and in the general interests of
humanity, we most earnestly desire the success
of any scheme of disarmmg-any measure
for reducing the gigantic warlike establish
ments which the European Governments now
maintain. The military system of Europe is
spectacle at once appalling in itself and dis
graceful to civilization. The idea of perma-
nently keeping five or six millions of men in
arms, ranged under dozen different flags, for
the purpose of fighting each other, as means
of settling the disputes of their rulers, Is an
outrage upon human nature, human reason,
and human rights. IL these rulers show that
this system is essential to their own existence,
then we hold that by this very fact it is
proved that they should be peremptorily struck
out of existence. 1t is on other grounds than
this, however, that the movement for disarm-
ing must at this time be based. 1t is on the
ground that, while the present organization of
things may continue to exist with great re-
duction of military force, the nations will,
through this reduction, be relieved of burdens
which are destructive of their strength and
prosperity.


There has not been any time during the last
quarter of century, nor even during the last
century, in which there has been as good an
opportunity for carrying out this reduction.
1t is not only that there has been peace through
out Europe for years past, but that there are
fewer misunderstanding and postponed
"quarres" than usual. Far more important
is the fact that the nations of Europe
are row better organized and Ill better
condition for the maintenance of peace than
they ever were at any previous time. a lib
eralzation of political institutions has now
been established in every country of Europe, by
which national policy has become a matter of
parliamentary action instead of royal whim. 1t
is another favorable circumstance that the uni
fications and adjustments of the last ten or
twelve years have settled many territorial and
boundary questions which had constantly threat
encd to bring about ruptures. There are still,
of course, the Rhine question, the Roman ques
ton, and the question Of COnstantinOple; but
there is no more probability of any one of these
becoming cause of war at this day than at
any indefinite time hereafter. If there can be
no army reduction till these are finally put
ont of the way, we may expect to see it post
pOned till doomsday.