MOST DEADLY AND MOST HUMANE.
By T.
ON September 20 Mr. Hudson Maxim delivered an address before the Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, on “High Explosives and Smokeless Powder and Their Applications in Warfare.” In the course of his remarks he said:— “The most deadly and destructive implements of war are the most humane, and the producers of them may justly be looked upon as humanitarians. The best guarantee of peace is to be in a position to make a breach of it as undesirable as possible to an enemy. The greatest security against receiving heavy blows is to be in a position to strike them. Peace is made most secure by being prepared for war, by pushing to the highest state of development possible the weapons and means of offense.” We notice this statement of Mr. Maxim’s because it represents an idea that has become quite prevalent. And we believe the notion never would have been thought of had it not been for the difficulty in harmonizing the doctrine of a dawning millennium of peace with the most colossal preparations for war that have ever been known. The people have quite largely been led to think that the world is getting better and better. But the Bible plainly says that “evil men, and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” 2 Tim. 3:13. The prophecy of the second chapter of Isaiah has been read and quoted extensively, but by human interpretation has been made to mean the exact opposite of what it says. The text reads as follows:— “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths; for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord.” Isa. 2:2-5. The foregoing scripture is plain, and it is also perfectly clear that it does not teach what is popularly attributed to it. In the first place, observe that the text tells us something that “shall come to pass in the last days.” Then notice that it is “many people” in these last days who “shall go and say” all these things about the beating of “swords into plowshares and spears into pruning-hooks,” and that “nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” “Many people” are truly saying these things to-day. And thus the prophecy informs us it shall be in the “last days.” But take particular notice of the fact that God has not sent these many people to say such things. They are saying them entirely on their own responsibility. Immediately following these sayings of the “many people,” the prophet says:— “Therefore Thou hast forsaken Thy people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the East, and are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers. Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures; their land is also full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots; their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made; and the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself; therefore forgive them not.” Isa. 2:6-9. Thus in these “last days,” while the “many people” are talking of beating “swords into plowshares” and “spears into pruning-hooks,” God says they are “soothsayers,” “they please themselves in the children of strangers,” “their land is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasure,” “their land also is full of idols, they worship the works of their own hands,” “and the mean man boweth down and the great man humbleth himself.” Thus does this scripture faithfully present God’s view of the actual condition of things when the people are talking such great peace. It is absurd to say that the great engines of death that are being prepared will make for peace. The world was never so full as to-day of men who stand ready to fight. And the new forms of explosives, the highly-developed guns and battle-ships, instead of crushing out the spirit are only adding fuel to the prevailing passion for war.