THE SOLDIER'S DREAM by T.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 8, 1899

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 25, No. 10.

THE SOLDIER'S DREAM.

By T.

THE United States is increasing both her army and navy. England has about a hundred war ships of the various classes in process of construction, and is also increasing her army. Germany, Russia, and the other leading nations of the world are striving to keep pace with the military extensions and establishments of the time.

The czar has called a peace congress, to be sure, but no one seems to think it will amount to much. All applaud the beautiful idea of a general peace, but none seem to seriously look upon it as being practical or attainable under present conditions. Each nation thinks that there would be more security if there was not so much attention given to military matters, but no country has been found that will take the initiative in ceasing to increase and improve their army and navy.

The soldier is being taught now that he must have high ideals and fight for the sake of pure love of humanity. This is particularly the case here in the United States. Thus when it is so manifest that war is one of the prevailing passions of the age, the attempt is made to show that it is also most noble, and that the great good of mankind is the underlying spirit that actuates it. This may be a very beautiful and possibly a pleasing sentiment. But what are the facts that warrant it? War is brutal and demoralizing, and it would not be a necessity if the high ideals of "Christian civilization" were a reality instead of mere bombastic boasting.

The world has been treated to a great deal of talk about our civilization being too far advanced to resort to the barbarities of war. But we see that the actual facts are that men go to war nowadays just as readily and just as cruelly as ever. So some explanation must be given; hence the idea has been set afloat that "great civilized nations wage war now for the betterment and the uplifting of humanity."

All of this sounds very well when proclaimed from the platform or the press. But there is no word of truth in it. Some individuals may be sincere in this idea, and may be aiding the cause of war with that end in view, but they are under a delusion and need to be undeceived.

The recent war with Spain was urged on by many honest-hearted and liberty-loving Americans, because their sympathies had been set aflame by the harrowing stories of the suffering Cubans. It was trumpeted everywhere that this was a war for the sake of distressed humanity. A great and noble and strong people had taken up the cause of the weak from no other motive than pure love for their fellow-men. These ideas were fully talked to the soldier, and it was his dream in camp and on the battle-field that he was fighting the cause of freedom from oppression.

But, the war once begun, how quickly this beautiful ideal is transformed into a monster of despotic usurpation! The country that begun its war for "the sake of humanity," ends it by grasping a lot of islands scattered all the way around the globe. And what is now

urged as one of the strongest reasons for holding them?—O, it is commerce—the advantages to trade—and also the idea of having strategic naval stations all over the world in case of foreign war. Thus in the final round-up of the war the great humanitarian ideas are swallowed by the selfish greed for commerce and the military ardor for better vantage-ground in the contest among the nations.

The soldier on the tented field may dream of a time of peace, but there will be no peace for him in this world unless he comes to the Prince of Peace and learns His ways. He may dream of fighting battles for the sake of freedom and humanity, but he will find that the insatiate thirst for wealth will turn his supposed victories into the channel of commerce, only that the shackles of poverty may be bound about men all the tighter. The leaders in politics are also the guides in military matters. And any one who looks into the political cesspool—for it could hardly be compared to anything else to-day—would hardly expect that such corrupting frauds as exist there could form a foundation for anything good.

Many dreams that appear beautiful indeed to the dreamer are vaguely floating through the minds of men and women to-day. But they will not be realized. The soldier, and all others, should be awakened from these dreams to a realization of the fact that the armies of the world are being gathered for Armageddon. The “battle of that great day of God Almighty” is about to be fought. And after it is over there will be, most truly, a universal and an eternal peace, but it will be brought about by the coming of the Prince of Peace in the clouds of heaven, according to His promise.

When that supreme and glorious moment is reached, and every eye will be upturned to behold the coming of the Lord, those who are ready to greet Him gladly will have learned beforehand His principles of peace. They will have been walking in harmony with His instruction, “Put up again thy sword into his place; for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.” Matt. 26:52.

If we would learn the lessons of Him whose mission to earth is to bring “peace, good-will toward men” (Luke 2:14), we should not take up the sword and musket and drill in the arts of slaughter and war; we should not chant the savage glories of bloodshed and carnage, but we should come to the Prince of Peace, and by meditating upon His tender mercies learn that truly “God is love.”

There are two camps to-day. In the one are the armed legions who are being inspired and driven by the evil power to use every faculty to invent new engines of death and destruction and also to reach the highest degree of proficiency in their use. In the other camp are found those who are studying the ways of the Prince of Peace, and who are guided by the light of His Word to the certain knowledge of the fact that the awful day of Armageddon lies right before us. Where are you? Where will you be in that great day? T.