The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-14
Ehe New Era Of Pcace-The Duty Of
the Christian Nations.


ignore. 1t is some time since General Grant
said, ''Let us have peace" At the time the
words were uttered General Grant looked
merely at his own country and his own people.
He did not see-he did not Understandable
the words might have larger meaning and q
wider purpose than he thought of. 1t is the
privilege of genius to speak from a lofty
standpont-a standpoint not generally fully
comprehended. The noteworthy fact of the
moment is that the words of General Grant
have sounded over the world like new
gospel; and we are not sorry to have to
record it that the new gospel is commanding
belief and worship among all peoples France
and Germany had to fight they have fought
the result is known to us, and no thoughtful
man can refuse to admit that the Franco
German struggle has lent something of en-
phasis to the words OF the soldier President
of free America.
If anything were wanted to convince us that
the words "Let us have peace" have told on
all nations aud on all peoples we can point to
the work of the Joint High Commission, which
has made war impossible, for the present, at
least, between Great Britain and the United
States; to the late London Conference, which
has satisfactorily settled the so-called Eastern
question; to the recent doings of the Italian
Parliament, which have reconciled the whole
world to the internal changes of the Italian
peninsula; to the treaty just completed be-
tween France and Germany, which has left
France to do her best, and secured for Ger
many all the rights which she has most Justly
won. Not to say more of the words of General
Grant, we think it not unfair to say that, what
ever the cause, the nations of Christendom,
or, as We prefer to put it, the nations Of the
civilized world, have made up their minds
that war is a big curse, which, as it
settles nothing, ought to be abandoned. In
plain and simple language let it be said that
the work of our Joint High Commission proves
to the world that all the laborious, bloody and
destructive work of war can be accomplished
by an easier, less bloody and less destructive
process. 1t is not, we think, unfair to add
that the nations of the civilized world are
giving good evidence that war within their
circle is a great folly. Great Britain has held
aloof, in spite of much abuse and not little
from the Continental troubles of
the last nine or ten months. Russia and
Austria, in spite of promising opportunities,
have revealed a similar spirit. We. too, had
our chances; but, looking at the future rather |
than the present, we have wisely given our
powerful influence to the cause of peace. The |
result is, looking at all the questions of the |
Old World and the New, that the nations of |
Christendom have found new point of de-
parture. Thanks to enlightened public
opinion, thanks to the intelligent and in
dustrous influence Of the press, thanks to
the railroad and the telegraph, there is the |
prospect Of new era and the new era among |
the so-called civilized nations promises to be
an era of peace.
We do not wish to talk idly. All that we
have said is based upon fact. For fifty years
to come, at least, Europe cannot have war
or prospect of war on the question Of the
Rhine boundaries. In the deep and numer-
GUS graves around Sedan, where many French |
men sleep the long sleep, the Rhine boundary
folly found its quietus. France and Germany
cannot soon go to war. Russia no longer pre-
tends to war with Turkey. The disaffected |
provinces Of the Turkish empire have been
plainly told that, 80 far as outside influence is
concerned, they cannot do better than accept |
the situation. The London Treaty has made
an end for the present, and, as we think, for
many years to come, of the old story of the
sick man. Austria, which is at the mercy Of
Russia and Germany, has been just as plainly
made to understand that in carrying out her
policy Of unity with autonomy she will
not be disturbed. Russia, Austria,
Great Britain, Italy, Spain, the lesser
nations one and all included-each
is anxious to be left alone and to have q
fair chance to carry ont domestic reforms.
From the North Sea to the Mediterranean,
from the Atlantic to the Bosphorus, all the
European nations see and admit the folly
Of war and feel the necessity and yield to the
desire for peace and internal development
If ever peace era dawned upon the So
called Christian nations that era has surely
dawned upon them now. No more self
destruction--.hat is the feeling of the mo-
ment.
In all this we rejoice, because it proves that
mind is triumphing over matter, brain over
brute force. 1t proves that the civilized
nations are yielding to the influence of the
truth that humanity is one and ought not to
be self-destructive. But the civilized nations
must not be allowed to close their eyes to the
fact that large portion Of the globe is in
darkness and demands light; that millions of
men ere in bondage and sigh for liberty.
China and Japan, with their countless mil
lions, Africa and Polynesia, with their
countless millions call to us for help.
Shall we allow them to call in vain
If we do it will not be for the want of