The Monticellonian., 1898-09-02
IIE CARS PROPOSITION.
An International Conference for the Purpose of Securing Real and
 Lasting Peace.
EVIDENTLY SINCERE IN HIS PURPOSE.
The Continually Enlarging Military and Naval Embellishments Have Failed in tho Desired Object of Preventing War While Proving a Tax on Material Prog ress and Wealth.

ress and Wealth.
 London, Aug. 29.-The czar's propo- sition for an international conference for the purpose of securing real and lasting peace among the powers and the termination of the progressive in- crease in armaments. as conveyed in a note from Count Muravieff, the Russian foreign minister, to the foreign diplo- mats at St. Petersburg, is likely to produce sensation throughout Flu rope, and, coming from such quarter, and with such evident sincerity of pur- pose, 1t is likely to have important ef- 3ects. There is no doubt that with Russia taking the lead in such step, GermanY, France and the other na- tlons will be ready to follow.
 Text of the Note.
 The text of the note follows:
 "The maintenance of general peace and the possible reduction of the ex- ecsslye armaments, which weigh upon ail nations, present themselves in ex- 1stlng conditions to the whole world as an ideal toward which the endeavors of all governments should be directed Humanitarian and Magnanimous Ideas.
 The humanitarian and magnani- nous ideas of his majesty, the em- porer, my august master, have been won over to this view in conviction that this 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 favor able to seeking the means
 \ Real, Durable Peace.
 Tn the course of the last % years, the longing for general appeasement has grown especially pronounced in the conseienees of civilized nations, and the preservation of peace has been put forward as an object of interna- tional policy. It is in its name that great states have concluded among themselves powerful alliances.
 The Better to Guarantee Peace.
 It is the better to guarantee peace that they have developed in proportions hitherto unprecedented their military forces and still continue 10 increase them without shrinking from any sacrifice.
 Nevertheless all those efforts have not yet been able to bring about the beneficent result paeifieation. Strike at the Very Root of Popular Pros
 perlty.
 "The financial charges following the upward march strike at the very root Of public prosperity. The intellectual and physical strength of the nations labor and capital are most diverted from their natural application 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-mor- row to lose all their value in conse- quence of some fresh discovery in the same field. National culture, economic progress and the production of wealth are either paralyzcd or checked in de- velopment, Moreover, in proportion as the armaments of each power in- crease, they less and less fulfill the ob. ject the governments have set before themselves.
 The Economic Crisis.
 'The economic crisis, due in great part to the system of armanents, foutrance, and the continual danger which lies in this missing of war ma terial are transforming the armed peace of our days into crushing blow which the peoples have more difficulty in bearing.
 .'It appears evident that if this state of things were to be prolonged it would inevitably lead to the very cata- elysm it is desired to avert, and tho horrors whereof make every thinking being shuddcr in advance.
 To Put an End to Ineessant Armaments. "To put an end to these incessant arr maments and to seek the means of warding off the calanities which are threatening the whole world-such is the supreme duty today 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 assembling of conference which shall occupy itself with this grave problem.
 Happy Prssage for the Century About to
 Open.
 This conference will be, by the help of God, the happy presage for the cen tury which is about to open. It would converge 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 corporate conservation of the principles of equity and right, whereon rest the security of states and the wei fare of peoples
 The London Press on the Proposal of the
 Czar.
 London, Aug. 2s.-The Daily Graphic this morning, after referred to the pro-