The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-08-31
CAR MOVES FOR PEACE.
Wants All Nations TO Agree TO Beat
Some Of their Swords Into
Ploughsharss.
PROPOSES A CONFERENCE.


Sr. PErERsBURe, August 2S.-By order
Of Emperor Nicholas. Count Muravielf,
the Foreign Minister. on the 2sth inst
handed to the foreign diplomats at 81.
Petersburg a note declaring that the
maintenance OF peace and the reduction
of the excessive ornaments now crush
ing all nations is the ideal for which all
nations ought 10 strive
The car considers the present moment
favorable fo4 the Inauguration of a move
ment looking TO this end. and invites the
powers to take part in international con-
ference as means of thus insuring real
and lasting peace and terminating the
progressive increase OF armament.
LONDON, August 2s-The czsr's propo-
sition for an international conference for
the purpose Of securing real and lasting
peace among the powers and the termi-
nation Of the progressive increase in arm
ameE:. as conveyed in a note from Count
Muravief, the Russian Foreign Minister,
TO the foreign diplomats at St. Peters
burg. is likely 70 produce a sensation
throughout Europe, and, coming from
such quarter and with such evident
sincerity of purpose. it is likely TO have
important effects.
There is no doubt that with Russia
taking the lead in such step. Germany.
France and the other nations will be
ready TO follow.
WHAT NICHOLAS PROPOSES.
The text of the note is as follows:
"The maintenance of general peace
and the possible reduction Of the excess
i've armaments which weigh upon all
nations present themselves in existing
conditions TO the whole world as an ideal
toward which the endeayors Of all gov
ernments should be directed. The hu-
manitarian and magnanimOus ideas OF
his majesty, the emperor. my august
master, have been won over 20 this view
in the conviction that this lofty aim Is in
conformity with the most essential inter
ests snd legitimate views Of all the pow
ers, and the imperial government thinks
the present moment would be very favor
aDlc 70 seckluk tue ulcduss
international discussion is the most
efectual means OF insuring all people
beneft-a real durable peace; above all,
putting an end TO the progressive devel
opment of the present ornaments.
T" In the course of the las. twenty years
the longing for general appeasement has
grown specially pronounced in the con
science OF civilized nations, and the pres
ervation Of peace has been put forward
as an object Of international policy. II is
in its name that great states have con
cluded among themselves powerful al
iiances.
at is better to guarantee peace thai
they have developed in proportions
hitherto unprecedented, than military
forces and still continue to increase them
without shrinking from any sacrifice.
Nevertheless all these efforts have no
yet been able TO bring about the benefi
cent result desired--paeifcation.
MISTAKEN POLICY.
1.-The financial charges following tn,
upward march strike at the very root o
public prosperity The intellectual anc
physical strength Of the nations labol
and capital are mostly diverted fron
their natural application and are unpro
ductively consumed. HundI eds of mil
lions are devoted TO acquiring terrible
engines of destruction, which though 20
day regarded as the last work Of science
are destined tomorrow To lose all theil
value in consequence Of some fresh dis
covery in the same field. National cnl-
ture, economic progress and the produc
ton of wealth are either paralyzed OF
checked in development. Moreover. in
proportion as the armaments Of each
power increase, they less and less fulfill
the object the governments have set be
fore themselves.
1.-THE economic crisis, due in greai
part 10 the system of armaments rout-
rance, and the continual danger which
lies in this massing Of war material, are
Transforming the armed peace of our days
into crushing burden which the people
have more and more difficulty in bearing
at appears evident that If this state O.
things were 10 be prolonged, it would
inevitably lead to the very cataclysm il
is desired to avert. and the horrors where.
Of make every thinking being shudder
in advance.
ITO put an end TO these incessant arm
aments and to seek the means of ward.
ing off the calamities which are threat.
ening the whole world-such is the su-
preme duty to-day imposed upon ali
states.
"Filled with this idea, his majesty has
been pleased 70 command me TO propose
10 all the governments whose representa-
tives are accredited to the imperial court
the assembling OF conference which
shall occupy itself with this grave prob
lem.
This conference will be. by the help oi
God, happy presage for the century
which is about to open. Il would con-
verge into one powerful focus the efforts
OF all states sincerely seeking TO make
the great conception of universal peace
triumph over the elements of trouble and
discord, and it would at the same time
cement their agreement by a corporate
conservation of the principles of equity
and right, whereon rest the security OF
states and the welfare Of peoples"