The daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1889-1890, 1890-03-22
'&ON EARTH PEACE, GOOD
WILL TO WARDS MEN"

At last we hear voice tiilhcard tOl
generations. the voice uplifted in thu
name of Christianity, sounded in thu
interests of peace. The cry for war ha.
grown louder and louder, the clash o
arms rings more and more resonantly
upon the alarmed ear, all Europe is q
vast military camp, and nations stand
ready to rush at each other in mutual
slaughter, awaiting only the perfection
Of the new implements of destruction
receiving their finishing strokes of death
from armories whose skill might he in
spircd by the diabolic genius of the in
fernal regions. Peaceful industries are
paralyzcd or oppressed, the pursuits OF
agriculture loaded with the charges OF
maintenance of soldiery improductive
and burden on peace, heavy taxation
weighing down every energy, debt, indi,
vidual and public, loading we enter.
prise, want and starvation gnawing into
all vitality, universal misery and hope
lessness darkening every prospect, and
only release and relief attainable through
conflict involving all the nations, decid,
ing with its certainty of horrors the
more dreaded uncertainties of inaction
with certain existing miseries and op-
pressions.
This is the condition in which the Head
of the Roman Catholic church, the Pope
himself, proposes to interest himself, and
mediate with the nations for general
disarmament. Whether he is impelled
by the great fundamental idea of Chris.
tianity itself, the spirit of peace. or
whether it is sympathy with humanity
itself as represented by the burdens from
which relief is sought through the de-
mands of organized labor, is immaterial.
It is enough that the Pop: has expressed
an active sympathy with the wage
workers whose claims touch humanity
and Christian duty more nearly than
those OF the hirclings for blood money.
Bet wcen the two there is conflict IRE.
concileable. 1t must precipitate itself
either in universal war or in internal
bringing ruin upon every
civil and industrial interest; or it must
be appeascd by decided movement to-
wards general paciiication AS cmpha.
sized by general disarmament.
The Papacy for centuries has not given
such evidences Of vitality, has not as
serted its claims to universal influence,
has not claimed for the church the right
and duty to interpose in secular mat.
ters. 1t does not do so now in matters
political; it does 80 only as inspired by
its spiritual obligations. Christianity,
in all its phases, must approve the noble
which has peace for its OBJ
ject. In it there is no element OF politics,
no adjustment Of the balance Of power.
no balancing Of claims between rival
hynasties, no setting up one king and
pulling down another. The weapons are
all spiritual, the agencies all Christian,
/ he aims all bencticcnt.
The proposition for mediation is made
to the German Emperor. The Pope
holds that the nations must adopt the
principles Of Christianity. The church
to which we give wider range than i'm.
piled bv the Popc-is the only power
to meet the issues involved in
the social and industrial movement; and
the German Emperor admits that gov.
cannot accomplish much unless
Christianity comes to their
aid.
Thus far they agree. Bismarck is out
Df the way. lie opposed to the last the
dca Of disarmament; proposed to the
ast demands for farther increase OF the
army, and consequent heavier burdens
upon civil industry. His removal is per-
haps the removal of the great menace
which has so long overshadowed the
peace of the world. His absence may
make possible what the Pope has SO
much at heart, and which all mi nkind
are so much interested in seeing accom-.
plishcd.