We see from a letter of Mr. Hodgson Pratt to
the Echo, that the members of the International Peace Congress, which has just concluded its sittings at Rome, believe that they have done some substantial work ; and perhaps, in spite of appearances, they have a foundation for their opinion. We are unable to believe that a few philanthropists will effect even in many generations a change which Christianity has for four- teen centuries been unable to accomplish; nor can we doubt that war is often a less evil than the abuses it is intended to re- move. The war of 1860, which emancipated Italy; the American War of 1861-65, which enfranchised the slaves ; and the war of 1870, which united Germany, are instances in point. They cost lives ; but we must all die, and the " horrors of the battle- field" are probably no greater than the collective horrors of any week's deaths in Europe or America. Wounds are no worse than severe fevers, and kill much quicker. At the same time, we should not forget that to restrict war to great occasions is of itself a serious gain, that popular dis- like of it tends to diminish its consequent sufferings, and that this dislike is fostered by the growth of opinion such as these Congresses try to foster. Certainly the col- lection of so large a group of representative men intent on a purely disinterested object, could have no other than a beneficial result. It was ominous that the managers were -compelled to exclude political subjects, lest the speakers should be at each other's throats, but hopeful that Germans, Frenchmen, Italians, and Englishmen could conclude a long -seance in perfect amity, and with practical resolutions. When "natural enemies" learn to debate in peace, something has been effected towards self-control.
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