A Cry for Peace.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 7069, 15 February 1893, Page 2

A Cry for Peace.

Madame von Suttner, an Austrian baroness, has written a book that is unrivalled as a passionate plea for '* peace in our time ” and the limes of those who are to follow us. It has been translated into nearly every European language, and has at length bsen translated into English. The great effects of the book are the contrasts between the finer feelings of the men who wage war and the stern duties of the soldier. Here is one of them : “ Why did you become a soldier p” “ You put the question in a way which shows you have looked into my heart. It was not I, not Frederick Tilling, nineteen years old, who hod seen three campaigns, who chose the profession, but little Freddy, ten or twelve years old, who had grown up among wooden warhorses and regiments of leaden soldiers, and to whom his father, the decorated general, and his unoie, the lady-killing lieutenant, would put the question cheeringly, ‘ Now, my boy, whut are you going to be ? What else ex« cept a real soldier, with a real sabre, and a live horse ?’" “ I had a box of leaden soldiers given me to day for my son Rudolf, but lam not going to give them to him. But why, now that Freddy has grown into Frederick, why have you not quitted a condition which has become hateful to you ?” “ Hateful ? That is saying too much. I hate the position of affairs which lays on us men such cruel duties as making war j but as this position does exist, and exists inevitably, why, I cannot hate the people who take it on themselves the duties arising from it, and fulfil them conscientiously with the expenditure of their best powers Suppose I left the service of the army, would there be any the loss warfare ? Truly not. It would only be that seme one else would hazard hie life in my place, aud I can do that myself.” “ Oonlcl not you render better service to your fellow-mcn iu another condition ?” “I do not know. I have learned nothing ilnroughly except soldering. A man can always do something good and useful in bis surroundings. I have plenty of opportunity of lightening the lot of those around me. Ind as far as concerns myself-for I may regard myself also as a fellow man—l enjoy the respect which the world pays to my profession. I have passed a tolerably distinguished career, am beloved by my comrades, and am pleased at what I have attained. I have no estate, and, as a private person, I should not have the means to assist any on© else, nor even myself. So on what grounds should I abandon my way of life ?” “ Because killing people is repulsive to you.” “ If it is a question of defending one’s life against another man attacking it, one’s personal responsibility for causing death ceases. War is often, and justly, styled murder on a large scale ; still, no individual feels himself to bo a murderer. However, that fighting is repulsive to me, that the sad entry on to a field of battle causes me pain and disgust, that is true enough. I suffer from it, suffer intensely, but so must many a seaman suffer during a storm from seasickness ; still, if be is anything of a brave man, he holds out on deck, and always, if needs must, ventures to sea again.” 1 “ Yes, if needs must. But must there then be war ? ’ “ That is a different question. But individusls must do their share in it, and that gives them, if not pleasure, at least strength to do their duty The question of the peace that might be if all the world were wise is put by the Baroness in a nutshell: '* To be sure, ’’ began the Minister thoughtfully. . . . “To be sure, it would be a fine thing if a unanimous vote in favour of laying down one’s arms could be brought about ; but, on the other hand, what Government would dare to make the beginning. To he sure, there is nothing so desirable as concord ; but, on the other bacd,bow can l-eting concord be thought posnble so long as human passions, separate interests, and so forth, still continue P” “ I beg your pardon,” said my son Budolf, now taking the word, “ Forty millions of inhabitants in a State form one whole. Then why not several hundred millions ? Can this be susceptible of logical and mathematical proof, that so long as human passions,' separate interests, and so forth, still continue, it is indeed impossible for forty millions of oeople to renounce the right to go to war with ouch other about them j nay, three States, like Ibe present Triple Alliance, may ally th erase Ives together, and form a ‘ League of Peace,’ but five States cannot do it, and mu-t not do it. Truly, truly, our world of to-day gives itself out as wondrous wise, and laughs at the savages j and yet in many things we also cannot count up to five.”