War-Ships and Peaceful Pageants

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 2, 1909

War-Ships and Peaceful Pageants

UNDER this heading the Denver Republican of September 29, gives expression to the following pertinent and sensible remarks, in regard to the recent display of war-vessels at the Hudson-Fulton celebration:—

The despatch of war-vessels by Great Britain, Germany, and other foreign powers to participate in the Hudson-Fulton celebration at New York City was a great honor to the United States, and evidence of the friendship of the nations represented. But how incongruous, after all, was the presence of these floating fortresses and their frowning guns in the midst of a peaceful pageant designed to commemorate events which had nothing to do with war.

War-vessels are sent upon occasions of this kind because they seem more distinctly than merchant ships to possess a national character. They represent the sovereign power, as ambassadors are distinguished from ministers by the fact that they represent the person of the ruler. But in this very particular it is unfortunate that circumstances seem to make their employment requisite; for they tell of force, and from every porthole destruction glares. . . .

Should a similar occasion offer, how much better would it be if the United States, instead of sending a fleet of battle-ships to represent the naval strength of this country, were to despatch an equal number of vessels engaged in commerce and bearing in their structure and character a message of peace from the American people to all the world.

But the suggestion of the Denver Republican will never be carried out. The spirit of these times demands pomp and pageantry, and peace is not the offspring of such a spirit, nor does it foster such demonstrations. The world is preparing for its greatest war, and nothing so fitly shows that fact as the representation of nations at peaceful functions by ships that bristle with cannon.