WAR AND THE PUBLIC CONSCIENCE.
By T.
The papers in this country are commenting a good deal on what is being said in England concerning the instruction that it is claimed General Kitchener has given to his troops in Africa. They say that the evidence is conclusive to prove it. The general’s instruction, as given in the Westminster Gazette, is as follows:— “1. To seize all forage, horses, cattle, and other live stock belonging to any Boer who had broken his oath of neutrality, or whose son had gone on commando.” “2. To denude the country of forage and supplies, so as to leave no means of subsistence for any commando.” “3. To seize all stock without payment or receipt of all disloyal farmers, or of those whose fathers or sons are in the field.” “4. To seize all stock on farm any member of whose household, after laying down arms, again goes on commando.” “5. To seize or destroy all crops on farms belonging to men on commando.” “6. To seize and remove all farming gear, leaving none whatever for farming and other purposes.” The foregoing instructions are indeed barbarous; for war is barbarous. But they are simply the instructions of the army general that expects to win. It is impossible to have a humane war. War has no good thing about it. It is nothing but cruelty. And Christian professors should learn that the thing for them to do is to quit trying to make war refined and gentle. They should simply let war alone, so far as engaging in it is concerned, and whenever they mention it, the purpose should only be to show that it is one of the things that will not exist in the kingdom of the Prince of Peace. Then how gladly and vigorously should we herald the message that the long, cruel reign of sin, with its attendant wars, is about to come to an end, and the coming of the Just One is before us! Hasten the glorious day! There will be no place for war under the everlasting reign of Christ; but we may not look for that blessed condition this side of there. T.