Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-08-31
FOR UNIVERSAL PEACE.
Wants Burdensome Armanents
Reduced.
NOTE FROM THE CAR.
The Russian Declaration Causes. a
Sensation Throughout
Europe.

St Petersburg, Aug 29.-By order of
Emperor Nicholas, Count Muravieff, the
foreign minister on the oath inst. has
handed to the foreign diplomats at st.
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
governments ought to strive.
The Car considers the present mo-
ment favorable for the inauguration of a
movement looking to this end and in
vites the powers to take part in an inter
national conference as means of ensur-
ing real and lasting peace and terminal
ing the progressive increase of arma-
ment.
London. Aug. 29.-The Cars proposal
for an international conference for the
purpose of securing real and lasting
peace among the powers and the terml-
nation of the progressive increase IN ar
maments, as conveyed in a note from
Count Muravieff, Russian foreign minis
ter. to the foreign diplomats at st. Pe-
tersburg, is likely 10 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 TIE other
nations will be ready to follow. The text
of the note follows:
The Cars Note.
The maintenance of general peace and
the possible reduction of the excessive arm
amcnts which weigh upon all nations pre-
sent themselves in existing conditions to
the whole world as an ideal toward which
the endeavors Of all governments should
be directed. The humanitarian and mag
unanimous ideas of his majesty, the EN-
peror, my august master, have been Won
over to this view in the conviction that
his lofty aim is in conformity with the
most essential interests and legitimate
views of all the powers; and the imperial
government thinks the present moment
would be very favorable to seeking the
means.
International discussion is the most eff
fectual means Of enSuring all people
benefit-a real durable peace. above all
putting an end to the progressive deVel-
opnents of the present armaments.
In the course Of the last twenty wears
the longing for general appeasemcnt has
grown especially pronounced in the con
science OF civilized nations: ana the pres
ervation of peace has been put forward
as an object Of international policy. 1t is
in its name that the great S,a eS have
concluded themselves powerful alliances.
1t is the better to guarantee peace that
they have developed in proportions hither-
to unprecedented their military forces and
still continue to increase them without
shrinking from any sacrifice.
Nevertheless, all these efforts have not
yet been able to bring about the beneficent
result Observation-Disclosures.
The financial charges following the up
ward march strike at the very root of pub
lie prosperity. The intellectual and physical
strength of the nations labor and capital
are mostly diverted from their natural APP
plicatiOn and are unprOductively consumed.
Hundreds Of millions are devoted to acQuir-
ing terrible engines OF destruction. which
though today regarded as the last work Of
science. are destined tomorrow to lose all
their value in consequence of some fresh dis
covery in the same field. National culture.
10
wealth are either paralyzed or checked in
development. Moreover, in proportion as
the ornaments Of each power increase they
less and less fulfill the object the govern
ments have set before themselves.
Crushing Burden to People.
The economic crisis. due in great part to
the system Of ornaments loutrance and
ing of war marteial are transforming the
armed peace of our days into a crushing
burden: which the peoples have more and
1t appears evident that if this state Of
things were to be prolonged it would newt
ably lead to the very, cataclysm it is desired
to avert, and the horrors whereof make
every thinking being shudder in advance.
To put an end to these incessant arma-
ments and to seek the means of warding off
the calamities which are threatening the
whole WOrld-such is the supreme duty to-
day imposed upon all states.
Filled with this idea, his majesty has been
pleased to command me to propose to all
the governments whose representatives are
accredited to the imperial court the assem-
bling of conference which shall occupy it
self with this grave problem.
This conference will be by the help of
God, the happy presage for the century
which is about to open. 1t would converge
into powerful focus the efforts of all
states, sincerely seeking to make the great
conception of universal peace triumph over
the elements of trouble and dscord, and it
would at the same time cement their agree
ment by corporate conservation of the prin-
ciples of equity and right whereon rest the
security OF states and the welfare of DeO-
pies.