Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, MAY 19, 1898. Why Should There Be War.

Manawatu Herald, 19 May 1898, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, MAY 19, 1898. Why Should There Be War.

Civilisation it was hoped would make wars a matter of the past, and it has been a dream that the future should witness the brotherhood of man. This appears to be cast to the four winds of heaven directly the pocket is touched, and strange as it may sound the very civilisation we are so proud of, will be the cause of setting the world at large at war. Peace which has reigned so long has had the effect of reducing the cost of living and thus educating all to a different and more expensive manner of eating and dressing, which makes a heavy call upon the earnings of the labourer, to support which he must be assured of constant employment. To secure this the manufacturer must have continually new markets opening up to him, and this can only be secured by seeking fresh territories in which the bless ings of calico and shirting may be introduced, at a good profit, to the natives of lands not yet accustomed to such luxuries. Civilisation has increased the length of the lives of the inhabitants, increased the co3t of living, given them more" to live upon and has encouraged the increase of population, in spite of the state ments made by statiatiana that the earth will not support more than 5,994 million people, whioh at the present rate of increase will be reached in about 174 years. This date may seem far enough distant for ua, but as the calculations are made over the world it i 3 easy to understand that in densely populated countries, the time has already come when there are too many at home. We have an instance in Great Britain, and again in Germany. Thus the older countries are feverishly anxious for new outlets for men and produoe, which must be sought at any coat abroad to keep peace at home. The colonißing successes of Great Britain are so many object lessons to other countries, which they would fain follow, but the home training has not created a colonist that secures success. As trade is known to follow the flag of the country, fair as Great Britain has been in leaving all her posses sions open to trade rivals, Btill the greatest portion of the business remains with her, and to stop her progress in this direction is the aim and object of tha nations of Europe. Looked at in the light of Britain's opponents they cannot be said to be very much to blame ; they acknowledge the handicap of push and energy is too much for them, and they thus want slices of other people's territories all to themselves, where they can trade without com : petition and thus earn a living for their industrial classes. Any war that occurs, though reasons of a high sounding character may be alleged, will be nothing but a war on the part of the human family for means to keep on living in the style created by a succession cf prosperous years. The richest parts of the world open but partly to European markets are China and Africa and it is on these profitable business spot? trouble has arisen. Germany wants a market, so does France, and Russia, but they want the market to themselves, and to handioap Great Britain and the United States by instituting heavy import duties, even it they do not desire to shut the door in their faces. Great Britain truly declares she wants no new territories but only trade, but the trade is wanted so badly that China is not to be parcelled out to any country, and there must be an open door. War will probably have to take place to decide these issues and it will arise from the failure of civilisation to achieve the ends so fondly hoped from it ; in fact the coming war may fairly be laid to the account of an exces3 of civilisation.