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NOTES AND COMMENTSSource: The Advocate of Peace (1894-1920), Vol. 56, No. 1 (JANUARY, 1894), pp. 15-18Published by: World Affairs InstituteStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/20665060 .

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THE ADVOCATE OF PEACE. 15

Professor Eggert's view that Germany's safety lies in her army is, we are well aware, in accord with the com mon notion in all countries. On the contrary, we believe, with the deepest conviction, that, in her case as in that of

other countries, her army is precisely her chief source of

danger. History proves on more than a thousand pages that "they that take the sword shall perish by the

sword." Even though it may seem "to the Jews a

stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness " we de

clare unreservedly our belief that if Germany would

boldly and courageously, alone if need be, disarm, she would be in less danger of attack from Russia and of los

ing her possessions on the west side of the Rhine than she is in her present condition. Her example would be so

stupendously impressive that no nation in Europe could resist it. France is less likely to regain her lost provinces with every increase of her fighting strength. If she would disarm, as she ought to do, and leave the question of her claims to these provinces to be settled by some

thing entirely different from swords and cannon, not a

nation of Europe would lift a finger against her and in due time, right, whatever it is, would be done her. Her situation and, more, the character of her institutions marks her out as the nation which ought to lead in this movement. The present course of Europe is leading on inevitably to disaster and inconceivably cruel events, and we will not take the responsibility of offering a single excuse for any nation to continue its downward course. The clash of arms has been heard along the Rhine for 1400 years ; every sword that is gleaming in Europe to-day ought to be put up at once and forever.

This all may seem very visionary and impracticable, and, in the present state of feeling in those countries, is doubtless so. But these feelings ought not to exist, and we shall continue to declare them wrong and their fruits also. Until they change there can be no genuine solu tion of the vexing problems. The right way out of the

difficulty is the noblest and the safest, and others that

may be tried can only lead bungingly and with infinite slowness and disappointment to the goal which might be reached almost at once, if a nation or two had the courage boldly and without reserve to take the great step.

At the last annual meeting of the Women's Peace Association, in Manchester, England, a letter was read from a prominent English clergyman, in which he said : u Women have had a good deal to do with the admiration of military heroes. They can do much in changing pop ular sentiment about soldiers and soldiering," and he ends his letter with: "I hope that your association's efforts may be vigorous and effectual against that wicked and

(consequently) stupid way of settling differences by mur der, which has so long afflicted the world." Those who believe that the world is not yet ready for universal peace none the less admit that it will come as the centuries roll on, not " through the fitness of one nation, but the unfit ness of many."?Chicago Journal.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

The American Peace Society is offering this year three

prizes to the nembers of the Senior and Junior classes in

the colleges and universities of the United States for the

three best essays on the " Economic Waste of War."

The following letter has been addressed to the college and

university Presidents, calling attention to the subject and giving the conditions of the competition :

Dear Sir:

The American Peace Society offers this year three

prizes, of $100, $50 and $25, respectively, for the

three best essays on the 44 Economic Waste of War," to be competed for by the members of the Senior and

Junior classes (those in the regular courses leading to the

Bachelor's degree) of the Colleges and Universities of the

United States.

It is intended that the treatment of the subject shall

be in the form of an argument against war. The subject

may be so extended as to cover not only direct waste of

money and property in war and war-preparations and the

burdens of taxation, but also any consequent derange ment of commerce, international distrust affecting trade

relations, loss of life as affecting the productive indus

tries, and the moral character of war so far as involved in its economic waste. The conditions under which the prizes are offered are

as follows :

1. Each College or University competing shall forward

but one essay to the American Peace Society, the choice

between the essays written by the Seniors and Juniors of

said institution to be made by its Faculty or by judges

appointed by them. 2. The essays shall contain not less than 2000 nor

more than 3500 words. 3. The copies of the essays sent to the American

Peace Society shall be type-written, and shall be at the

disposal of the Society, to use as it may see fit. 4. The comparative merits of the essays forwarded

shall be determined by a committee named by the Ameri can Peace Society, who shall render their decision on (1) the force of the argument and (2) on the general char acter of the composition.

5. The essays must be in the hands of the American Peace Society not later than the 15th of July, 1894.

If you think it proper to allow your Seniors and Juniors to compete for these prizes, will you kindly lay the mat ter before them at once and let us know as early as con

venient if any of them wish to enter the competition.

A general meeting of the Austrian Peace Society was

held at Vienna on the 5th of December under the presi dency of the Baroness Von Suttner.

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16 THE ADVOCATE OF PEACE.

The Hawaiian situation has continued the chief subject of interest in Congress and out of it. The President sent in his special message to Congress on the 18th of Decem ber. It is in accord with the position previously assumed

by him and Secretary Gresham and is in the form of a

lawyer's argument defending this position against Mr. Stevens and all others of like opinion. The way in which the matter has been taken up by the Senate would seem to promise a thorough and fair investigation, if political considerations do not prevent it. It is unfortunate that a question of such moment cannot be kept free from po litical chicane. The purpose of the Administration to

restore the former government in Hawaii, while allowed to have proceeded from the desire to do justice, has met

with little sympathy in Congress or out of it. Liliuo

kalani has declined to return to the throne unless she

could have the promise of being maintained there by the

United States. This promise of course was not given. In

Hawaii the provisional government has gone on strength ening itself to meet any effort made to overthrow it.

The International Peace Bureau at Berne has received the official recognition of the Swiss Federal Council, which has voted 1000 francs to its support for 1894.

The Council promises to renew from time to time the

consideration of the question of further support of the

Bureau. We are heartily glad this step has been taken

by the Swiss Government. The Bureau is doing excel

lent service in its proper field, and money spent in such a

way is a thousand-fold more valuable to Switzerland than

that spent in building fortifications on the border.

The December Concord, just at hand, mentions the

holding of a great meeting in Memorial Hall, Farringdon Street, London, on the 15th ult., to protest against the deeds of the Chartered Company in South Africa. The

meeting was called by the International Arbitration

League and was supported by several members of Parlia ment. The following resolution was passed and ordered to be sent to the Prime Minister and to the Secretary of

State for the Colonies : tfc This meeting emphatically pro tests against the doings of the Chartered Company and

their hired mercenaries in Matabeleland, and calls upon Her Majesty's Government to exercise its influence to

prevent the further shedding of blood, loss of life, and

looting of the natives, and the appropriation of their

lands either by the Company or the freebooters in their

service."

The Columbian Exposition Memorial to the Govern

ments of the world, in behalf of peace and arbitration,

signed by representatives of forty nations, has been pre sented to our Government by Mr. William E. Blackstone

of Chicago, the originator of the memorial. It was most

favorably received and promises to prove an important factor in hastening on the work of securing arbitration

treaties among the nations.

Mr. Jules Simon, the distingushed French statesman

and author, has just published in the Figaro an article

which has attracted wide attention in Europe. The arti

cle is entitled u A Truce of God." After briefly review

ing the situation in Europe and distinctly asserting that

France, though she ought not to give up her claims to

the two lost provinces, ought to renounce all idea of retak

ing them by force, he proposes that a truce be formed

between the nations of Europe till the year 1900, dur

ing which time, in accordance with the oft-expressep

peaceful sentiments of the different rulers, all of the na

tions shall solemnly pledge themselves to commit no act

of war. This proposition is heartily approved by Sena

tor Marcoartu of Spain in a letter to Mr. Simon, though he desires to see the truce declared for ten years. Some

of the French papers, notably the Bappel and the Soleil, hink the proposition unwise, and that such a truce

would in no way relieve the situation,

j If such a truce could be declared, coupled with the

agreement not to increase the armaments any further, it

might do much as a step towards the final and full relief

of Europe. Any action is to be welcomed which will

avert a clash of arms, unless it be of a nature to make it

more disastrous when it comes.

Ex-Prime Minister Crispi has been called again to form

a cabinet in Italy. It has been thought that his presence at the head of the Italian Cabinet will result in closer

union between France and Italy and take the latter out

of the Triple Alliance. We shall believe this when we

see it. General Ricotti has declined to accept the war

portfolio in the new cabinet because Premier Crispi re

fuses to allow the army to be at all lessened in order to

save money. This is in harmony with his position in a

previous cabinet.

Twenty-five more colleges have been selected in which to give instruction in military tactics and army officers

detailed to have charge of the departments. Military instruction was previously given in seventy-five colleges.

Secretary Lamont has a further list of colleges and schools

desiring army officers as instructors, but there are no

officers for them. Omaha has asked for an officer to give instruction in its high school, and the request is being

favorably considered. We let these facts make their

own comment. It takes only half an eye to see whither

the country is surely drifting.

Number twenty of the Autographic Correspondence of

the International Peace Bureau is at hand and is of un

usual interest. From it we extract the following which our American readers will be pleased to see :

"Messrs. Barodet, Deputy, Trarieux, Senator, and

Arnaud, President of the League (of Peace and Liberty)

recently had an interview about the question of a perma nent treaty of arbitration between the French Republic

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THE ADVOCATE OF PEACE. 17

and the United States of America. It was decided that a proposition for a Resolution, inviting the French Gov ernment to negotiate such a treaty, should be introduced on the same day into the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. This proposition, prefaced by a strongly worded statement of the motives, is receiving the signature of

many members of both Houses." "Messrs. Bonghi and Menotti Garibaldi in Italy, and

General Raqueni, Fr?d?ric Passy and Emile Arnaud in

France, are making vigorous efforts to carry out the recommendations relative to the creation of Committees of Pacification between France and Italy."

It is a sad picture of life in the army which is given by Mr. Frank Roberts in an article quoted on another page. It is no matter of surprise that the army loses nearly two hundred men every year by desertion. The real wonder is that any self-respecting man will endure such a life for a single week. A few years ago we knew a young man of fine intellect, from a religious family, who was sent by his father to a military school, the most famous in the

nation, tobe educated for a soldier. He left the Sopho more Class in one of our colleges where his life was sur rounded by refinement and the best of moral and religious influences. Everybody was sorry to see him go.

But he remained only about two weeks. The

vulgarity and profanity which met him and the coarse and brutal treatment received from the men under whose

charge he fell so disgusted him that he diliberately failed in his examination in order that he might not have to remain. And fifteen other }7oung men who had gone to enter the school joined him in forsaking the place.

Secretary of the Navy Herbert's first annual report shows that our navy, which is seventh in the rank of naval powers, now has forty-one war vessels, besides sixty four antiquated vessels unfit for service. The ships com

pleted since March 4, 1885, have cost over $25,000,000, and the entire forty-one about $65,000,000. The Secre

tary thinks the navy should be further strengthened by battleships rather than cruisers. Four battleships are now in process of construction. He recommends that the

construction of at least one battleship and six torpedo boats should be authorized by Congress this winter. The. estimates for the department for the next fiscal year are

$27,888,914, which is above five millions more than the

appropriation for the current year.

An effort is to be made at once to establish a chair on Arbitration in the Throop Polytechnic Institute at Pasa

dena, California. Mr. Throop, who founded the Insti tute and has liberally endowed it, is thoroughly in sym pathy with the peace movement, and so are all the mem bers of the Board of Trustees. Mrs. Deyo who has

recently become pastor of a church at San Diego will assist in the work of procuring funds for the chair.

Throop Institute is a non-sectarian institution.

The war in Brazil still drags its bloody self along. There has been some severe fighting between the insur

gents and the government troops both at Rio Janeiro and

in Rio Grande do Sul, the fortunes of the two remaining very much as they have been. The Nictheroy accom

panied by the America is reported to have started south

from Pernambuco in search of Admiral Mello?s ships. Each side thinks that the other has about reached the last

extremity. The insurgents have not been recognized as

belligerents.

The Arbitrator is publishing anew in England Wil

liam Ladd's Essay on a Congress of Nations. This is

timely in view of the great interest now felt in arbitration

treaties and an international Arbitration Court. This es

say by the founder of the American Peace Society was

the pioneer of its kind. It was first published over fifty years ago.

The foot ball war is over for this year, let us hope never to re-appear again in the form in which it has existed

during the last season. A sport that has become so

deadly as to kill more than a score and a half of boys in the two countries where it is played and which fur

nishes an almost irresistible temptation to betting and

various forms of rowdyism has certainly passed the limit

of reasonable toleration, if it can not be reformed. The

College faculties have this matter almost wholly in their

hands, and they will incur a fearful responsibility if they do not bring the game back to its early comparative harm

lessness.

Sir Charles Russell and Sir Richard Webster have been

made by the Queen Knights of the Grand Cross of the

Order of St. Michael and St. George, because of their

services in the Behring Sea Arbitration. Sir J. S. D.

Thompson has been made privy councillor for the same

reason. Mr. Phelps and Mr. Coudert and others from

this side are probably just as happy without having to

carry the burden of such overwhelming titles.

The Spanish war with the Riflians in Morocco is over.

Muley Araaf, the Sultan's brother, has agreed to hand

over to Spain the authors of the attack at Melilla on

October second. He has agreed also that an indemnity shall be paid to Spain and that a neutral zone shall be

established to be used alike by the Riffians and the

Spaniards.

The Baroness Von Suttner's famous story has almost

made the expression " Die Waffen Nieder "

(down with

arms) the battle-cry of the peace reform. Her journal

published in Germany and Austria under this title has

already attracted wide attention. The new peace paper started in Sweden has the Swedish title Ned Med Vapnen, which means the same thing.

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18 THE ADVOCATE OF PEACE.

The Lombard Peace Union at Milan, Italy, has just published its annual Peace Almanac with the title " Gi? le Armi" which in Italian signifies the same. This alma

nac, in the preparation of which no less than twenty-four Italian writers have assisted, contains much valuable in formation about the peace movement, bits of literature

showing the evils of war and the blessings of peace, a

short memoir of friends of peace deceased during the

past year, chiefly Italian, and various illustrations appro

priate to the purposes of the Almanac. We have been

particularly struck with the beauty and suggestiveness of the two illustrations on pages fourteen and fifteen. The first is entitled "

Yesterday and To-day" and represents two soldiers, an Italian and a Frenchman, standing on the

frontier with bayonets ready to cross. The second, en

titled " To-morrow," pictures the two men in citizen's

dress kindly shaking hands across the border. We congratulate Mr. Moneta and his associates on the

noble work which they are doing. The peace cause, to

quote the Almanac, is certainly "doing miracles" in

Italy.

One of the resolutions adopted at the recent annual

meeting of the Pennsylvania Peace Society alludes to an

evil widely prevalent in society, against which every officer of the law and every good citizen ought to set him

self. This resolution says: "That a fruitful cause of

peace breaking, bloodshed, suicides, assaults and assassi

nation is to be found in the unrestricted sale of pistols and other deadly weapons, and so long as the drunkard, the insane, the criminal and the misguided can buy them

we may expect their repetition." Added to this is the aggravation of the evil caused by

the display of imaginary shooting scrapes so often seen

on the theatre posters stuck up in public places on the

streets of our cities. It is within the power of city gov ernments to lessen crime very materially by keeping these

imaginary revolvers out of the sight of the boys whose

minds they inflame.

There has been severe fighting in North Mexico between

the government troops and the revolutionists, many being killed on both sides.

The Swiss Federal Council has decided to negotiate a

loan of four millions dollars, to be spent chiefly on

strengthening and extending the national defences. Is

Switzerland aware that in thus doing she is actually

tempting the great powers, in some hour of conflict, to

sweep down upon her and destroy her independence ?

She ought in no way to follow this senseless spirit of

European militarism.

" When the Church gains this conception of her mis

sion, viz., that every wrong on earth is a divine call to

the Christian and to the Church to right it, and acts on

that, conception, there will be a marvellous mortality

among the world's evils."?Dr. Strong's " New Era."

EVENTS OF THE MONTH.

Congress reassembled at noon on the fourth of Decem

ber, and the President's message was read the same day. What with the Hawaiian question and the Wilson Tariff Bili and the grave financial problems existing, there

promises to be no lack of subjects to puzzle the heads of the legislators

A resolution, introduced by Senator Hoar, was adopted by the Senate on the 6th of December asking the Admin istration for copies of all instructions given our diplomatic and naval representatives in Hawaii for the last twelve

years. On the same day a similar resolution was offered in the House by Representative Hitt of Illinois, and

passed on the thirteenth. On the twentieth, after the President's special message on Hawaii was received, the Senate adopted a resolution introduced by Senator Mor

gan empowering the Committee on Foreign Affairs to make a thorough investigation of the Hawaiian matter.

The sub-committee to make the investigation consists of

Morgan, Butler, Gray, Frye and Sherman.

Professor John Tyndall, the eminent English scientist, died at his home in Haslemere on the evening of Decem

ber 4, at the age of 73 years. He was, in 1853, chosen Professor of Natural Philosophy in the Royal Institution of Great Britain, a position which he held for 34 years. He was the author of many books on scientific subjects, among the most noted of which were those on Heat and

Sound.

The House of Representatives has voted to admit Utah

and Arizona to Statehood.

A dynamite bomb was thrown into the French Chamber of Deputies on the 9th of December, by a despicable anarchist named Vaillant. Sixty Deputies and others were injured. It is useless to attempt to characterize

such a deed. It is unsurpassed in the annals of wicked ness. Immediately afterwards the French Senate passed the Press Bill providing for the punishment of papers

publishing inflammatory anarchist articles. Anarchists

have since been arrested all over France.

The methods adopted in the large cities this winter to

relieve and prevent suffering, threatening in ? an unusual

degree from the necessary discharge of so many workmen, lead to the hope that an early solution may be found for

this oft-recurring problem of how to take care of the out

of-works. The opinion is rapidly growing that to relieve

out and out, without furnishing employment, is to aggra vate the evil sought to be cured. This winter in many cities the citizens have undertaken, in an organized way, to find and provide work for the unemployed, and with

gratifying success. It is probable that before many years some general State and municipal scheme will be devised

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