416 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



reputed victor being most of all disappointed at last with the terms 

 of peace. Had Japan, a very poor country, known that the result 

 would be a debt of two hundred millions sterling loading her down, or 

 had Eussia known the result, differences would have been peacefully 

 arbitrated. Such considerations find no place, however, in the fiery 

 furnace of popular clamor; as little do those of cost or loss of life. 

 Only if the moral wrong, the sin in itself, of man-slaying is brought 

 home to the conscience of the masses may we hope speedily to banish 

 war. There will, we fear, always be demagogues in our day to inflame 

 their brutal passions and urge men to fight, as a point of honor and 

 patriotism, scouting arbitration as a cowardly refuge. All thoughts of 

 cost or loss of human life vanish when the brute in man, thus aroused, 

 gains sway. 



It is the crime of destroying human life by war and the duty to 

 offer or accept peaceful arbitration as a substitute which need to be 

 established, and which, as we think, those of the church, the universities, 

 and of the professions are called upon to strongly emphasize. 



If the principal European nations were not free through con- 

 scription from the problem which now disturbs the military authorities 

 of Britain, the lack of sufficient numbers willing to enter the man- 

 slaying profession, we should soon hear the demand formulated for a 

 league of peace among the nations. The subject of war can never be 

 studied without recalling this simplest of all modes for its abolition. 

 Five nations cooperated in quelling the recent Chinese disorders and 

 rescuing their representatives in Pekin. It is perfectly clear that these 

 five nations could banish war. Suppose even three of them formed a 

 league of peace — inviting all other nations to join — and agreed that 

 since war in any part of the civilized world affects all nations, and 

 often seriously, no nation shall go to war, but shall refer international 

 disputes to the Hague conference or other arbitral body for peaceful 

 settlement, the league agreeing to declare non-intercourse with any 

 nation refusing compliance. Imagine a nation cut off to-day from 

 the world. The league also might reserve to itself the right, where 

 non-intercourse is likely to fail or has failed to prevent war, to use the 

 necessary force to maintain peace, each member of the league agreeing 

 to provide the needed forces, or money in lieu thereof, in proportion to 

 her population or wealth. Being experimental and upon trial, it might 

 be deemed advisable, if necessary, at first to agree that any member' 

 could withdraw after giving five years' notice, and that the league 

 should dissolve five years after a majority vote of all the members. 

 Further provisions, and perhaps some adaptations, would be found 

 requisite, but the main idea is here. 



The Emperor of Russia called the Hague conference, which gave 

 us an international tribunal. Were King Edward or the Emperor of 



