The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1898-09-08
PEACE CONVENTION.
Such is the Proposition Of Russia's
Gear.

ence for the purpose OF securing
real and lasting peace among the
powers, and the termination of the
progressive increase in ornaments,
as conveyed in a note from Count
Mursiff, the Russian Foreign Minis
ter, to the foreign diplomats at St.
Petersburg, is likely to produce
sensation throughout Europe, and,
coming from such a quarter and
with such evident sincerity of pur-
pose, it is likely to have important
effects.
There is no doubt that with Rus
STA taking the lead in such a step,
Germany, France and the other ma
tions will be ready to follow.
The text OF the note follows:
The maintenance OF general
peace and the possible reduction OF
the excessive ornaments which
weigh upon all nations present
themselves in existing conditions TO
the whole world as an ideal toward
which the endeavors OF all good
governments should be directed.
The humanitarian and magnani-
nous ideas Of his Majesty, the EN-
peror, my august master, have been
won over to these views in the con-
viction that this lofty aim is in con-
formity with the most essential in
terests and legitimate views of all
the powers; and the imperial Gov
crnment thinks the present moment
would be favorable to seeking the
means.
international discussion is the
most effectual means Of insuring-
to all peoples beneft-a real, dur
able peace, above all putting an end
to the progressive development OF
the present ornaments.
"In the course of the last twenty
years the longing for the general
appeasement, has grown especially
pronounced in the consciences Of
civilized nations; and the preserva-
ton Of peace has been put forward
as an object of international policy.
1t is in its name that great states
have concluded among themselves
powerful alliances
1T is the better to guarantee peace
that they have developed in proper
lions hitherto unprecedented their
military forces and still continue to
increase them, without shrinking
from any sacrifice,
Nevertheless al these efforts
have not yet been able to bring
about the beneGcent result desired
Wa4I
"The financial charges following
the upward march strike at the very
root of public prosperity. The in
tellectual and physical strength OF
the nations labor and capital are
mostly diverted from their natural
and are unproductively
consumed. Hundreds OF millions
are devoted to acquiring terrible
engines of destruction, which,
though to-day regarded as the last
work of science, are destined to-
morrow to lose all their value in
consequence of some fresh discovery
in the same field. National culture,
economic progress and the produce
ton OF wealth are either paraly zed
or checked in development. More
over, in proportion as the ornaments
OF each power increase the less and
less they fulfill the objects the gov
ernments have set before themselves.
The economic crisis, due in great
part to the system of ornaments
Poulrance, and the continued danger
which lies in this massng of war
material, are Transforming the arm
ed peace of our days into crush
ing burden which the peoples have
more and more difficulty in bear
ing.
at appears evident that if this