Klamath Union High School - El Rodeo Yearbook (Klamath Falls, OR)

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udmmwm; mdlbnlimrmg '11- Mamas! Mdmww immhmolllrcml um um wWIM KLAMATH' COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL BOOMER. 17 Anglo-Saxon nations, England and the United States of America, wholrepresent one-third of the civilized peoples of the world. It may be that the world has not yet reached that stage in its development When war can be dispensed With, or when a total disarmament is feasible, but this international parliament is a long stride in the right direction and, if we may judge the events of the future by those of the past, if we trace out this evolutionary development to its logical conclusion, the belief forces itself upon us with resistless certainty that the world is rapidly approaching that much to be desired condition. As men are brought closer to eachother by the common ties of human interest and brotherhood, and as their lust for carnal glory and their primitive thirst for blood are succeeded by a cool and rational conception of the true purposes of life, this parliament of man will assume more and more'power and will acquire greater prestige till it shall ultimately be looked upon as the high and inviolate tribunal of all nations. And it is reasonable to conclude that if the peoples of one empire can live in peace with each other that the peoples of all empires can ultimately live in peace with each other, and that as time passes on national lines will disappear and that some time all peoples, regardless of race or nationality, will be directed by a great central parliament. And when this unity has been achieved there will be no need of war. And, finally, as the barbarous and semi-civilized peoples of today take on the civilization of the Christian world, they will naturally fall into line, and in time all men will live as brothers. This is not an idle dream, but the natural and logical outcome of a process which has been going on since the beginning of history. We live in an age of comparative barbarism. The terrible alternative of war is resorted to for the settlement of international questions. The powers are obliged to build up great armies and navies at the expense of their hard-working and peace-loving citizens Who are bowed down and crushed by the gruelling cost of maintenance. A great part of the mental and physical energy of our inventors and artisans, as well as an immense share of natural wealth, is expended'in devising engines of war for the preserva- tion of peace. Under such conditions we may look with hope upon this interna-

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16 KLAMATH COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL BOOMER. Great Britain four hundred million pounds and thousands of lives to conquer little Transvaal, and Russia untold treasure in money, property, prestige and human lives to oppose the natural growth of J apan. Besides these expenses, both these powers, as well as ' all the other European powers, are spending so much money on . their military establishments that internal improvements, and even the well being and happiness of citizens, are sadly neglected, if not well nigh forgotten. , But, since the terrible Russo-Japanese war and the bloody and unjust annexation of the Transvaal by England, the thinking and peace loving people of the world are roused as they never were before against this unbrotherly and unchristian institution of war. They are beginning to ask themselves: Why the continuation, even into the twentieth century, of this insane and barbarous custom? Why this intolerable condition of wealth-sapping preparation against a contingency which should not exist? Why. not abolish war? . . And so, as a result of this revulsion of feeling, which is making itself felt throughout the breadth of the earth and among all peo- ples and races, the first pariliament of the nations will meet at The. Hague next month for the further consideration of these great questions. Yes, the first parliament of the nations, because prac- tically every independent nation on the face of the earth will. be represented; and for this reason this meeting will assume far greater proportions and exert much greater influence than did The Hague peace conference. It will be the firstlparliarnent in which all races and conditions of civilized men will be assembled to solve their common problems, and to consider this gravest of all ques- tions, that of limiting armaments. It has been said that perhaps some one or two powers might possibly refuse to enter the conference if the troublesome question of disarmament is brought up, but in this case as' well as in all ordinary conventions, the majority should rule, and no one nation or alliance ought to be allowed to prevent the consideration of this question, and without such consideration the whole proceeding becomes a farce. Most of the great military powers of Europe 7 are in favor of limiting armaments, While the two powers that will take the most prominent part in the movement are those great h. $1413 2: am. 1 ma n, WI: PHHHVvI . 4 '3! 1f 8- I'YYIHWL: 335th! 3m! gm; 1313' hi liming; 'h t 31' l rm ., .. kw thaw : pm. umm m: Am 9 .

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18 KLAMATH COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL BOOMER. s a precursor of the millenium; When nations shall learn war no more, and love and brotherhood shall fill the hearts hitherto filled With hate. and blood-guiltiness. May God hasten the time When swords shall be beaten into plowshares and the fiends of war go down before the Prince of Peace. tional parliament a , r me 1'?! i . 7.. unhuw mum miiiB-ma. :3thW hung ?Mbw 'nMWOI 'Ilu. , OI u... in. N