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Show 182 183 trv's vital interests have been assailed and where defenders of her enlightened and liberty-loving principles were endangered \Vlierever true patriotism has been manilest, there. commerce and industry would render due aclt'nowledgement. lispecially would commerce and industry render assistance in caring for those who through exposure on ocean or land have. become crips pled and dis .tsed and need the sheltering arms of the goverw merit in providing for those who have defended the 1n<,>therlanrl. \Vhile commerce and industry would gratefully malte acknowl- edgment, these two great interests of mankind may be allowed to ask the question. "Is there not a better way than that of war MUM from productive sources. for armies and navies arc non-producers. This equipment is of the most expensive Character, and. when in action. their object is destruction; the result of efficient action is wounds. death, destruction of property and of the enemv. is the justice of a cause established by war? Never! Are the passions of men soothed by war? Never! Is brotherly ltind« time have our own just rights respected and protected?" Com- merce and industry will probably always admit the need and wisdom of maintaining an ample police force, local, state, national ness promoted by war? Never! ls faith and confidence in your brother man strengthened by elaborate and costly preparations for war? Never! Is the peace and comfort of our minds promoted by fearing our fellows? Never! Should commerce and industry, so sorely burdened by prepa- and international. to enforce, where necessary, local. state, national rations for war, remain silent and enter no protest? and international customs and laws. and, where necessary, to hold in check and compel the submission of the unruly, lawvdet‘y- commerce and industry call upon the congresses, the legislative and the ‘big' stick' to influence our fellow men, and at the same m} wow" debts and the consequent cause of the heavy taxes. Commerce and industry may well question the reasons which armv and navy allege as justification for the large sums of money, the large number of men and the vast amount of material they are takingr ing‘ element, whether that element be local, state or national. Commerce and industry may be permitted to ask. Why the need of such an increase in the expense of army and navy, when so many arbitration treaties are signed and when there. is such a g‘owing tendency to lool; t0 courts of law for settlements of differences? The code of the duelist is out of fashion. The big navy enthusiast is shouting: for peace. and gives, as an excuse for wanting a big navy, that such a navy will be a dove of peace. \\'ar deranges every relatitmship of life and throws int.» confusion the occupations whereby the human family is nourished and housed. Commerce, one of the principal sources of national wealth. and industry through which mankind provides for the neces~aries and luxuries, are both burdened and interfered with by preparations for war and by war itself. Preparations for war and the Cost of past wars are now absorbing about two»thirds oi the present v< 'y la 'e income of the United States government. an income t-btained directly and indirectly through taxes which are levied in large part on commerce and industry. \Vhat reason has this mmtster evil of the world. war, to give for the burdens it is ittlpusing' on mankind? \ 'ar is one of the principal causes of poverty: war is the principal cause of the immense national Should not bodies of the world, the leaders and rulers, to arrest these vast expenditures in preparing for war? They certainly should. Should not commerce and industry point to the fact that they are. enabled to car'r' through their vast achievements because of their faith in their fellow men, that the very existence of their benclicent‘ lite-work depends upon their confidence that contracts will be fulfilled, and that if there should arise differences of opinion as to what contracts call for they can appeal to properly constituted courts before which both sides may explain their umlerstandine‘ of the contract, and through disinterested judges reach peaceful methods of settlement? Do cmnmerec and industry ever find it the best method to cut. shoot, burn? Never! Then why should congresses. leaders or rulers persist in cruel. barbarou destructive, wicked, foolish method of war, for settlement of di rences? it is. high time that commerce and industry should raise their voiccs. that they may be heard even by the congresses, the leaders, the rulers-heard even above the noise of cannon, and that those voices should demand that the peaceful methods of arbitration should be trusted, that nations as well as individuals may be trusted to keep their contracts, that honorable. ilertlllltl‘ anion;r nations may be expected even as amdllfl' lll'lml" individw als. Let commerce and industi , that supply men and money. 1116 |