UTTER FUTILITY OF WARFARE

Norman Angell, in his address last night on "The Foundations of International Polity," emphasized the utter futility of warfare, and presented his case on actual social, political, and economic reasoning. He pointed out that there is an international effect of all wars; the reaction is always felt in financial and industrial circles all over the world, as illustrated by the example of how the Balkan Wars resulted in unemployment for 5000 men in an American city. He styled as fallacious and mediaeval the popular European excuse for armament; that in future "some new territory must be conquered for the expanding population." Modern commercialism, with its intricate system of ownerships sales, and general business transactions would never permit the crudities of confiscation and destruction. Matters of interest and insurance are far too interwoven for that. Furthermore, experience has shown that one nation can not absorb the people of another, and so the plan of finding a New Germany, or a New France, is impossible. When the whole matter is boiled down to essentials, it is seen that the real reason for international armament lies in each country's fear of the other's aggression in case the one abandons means of defense, and this Norman Angell would remedy by international organization. He feels that Hague Conferences are accomplishing much, but that little can be done toward this world standardization until the proper public opinion be shaped.

The United States, in its present difficulties with Mexico, has a great opportunity to show the way. The eventual conquest of that country would be America's acquisition of an "Irish problem," to which she would have to devote attention which should be directed on matters nearer home. Europe is looking for America to lead, and it is the duty of our younger generation to so direct the great forces surely at work that international peace may soon be prevalent, and that we may soon have "a finer race of men and women than the world has ever seen."