New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-31
The Daily and Sunday Tribune for out
of-fo1rn readers, 81 a month. changes OF
address gree no HOnbIe.
MIXING FOR PEACE.

The peace conference of the Powers of Eu-
selves TO doubt. Such an invitation from such
a source is not to be ignored by any Govern
ment within the circle of Old World diplomacy.
The comfy Of nations requires it's accept
ance for declinatlon would be scarcely less
than an affront and menace to the author of
the invitation and TO all who accepted II. Self
interest requires It. too. for the European ma
ton tina. holds aloof will subject itself to grave
suspicious and 10 being regarded as unfrcndly
to the others. For any Continental Power TO
refuse TO enter such conference. I'm which
there would I've no compulsiOn but unbounded
opportunity. woyld be greatly like serving no.
tice to the world that il preferred war to peace.
even war for wars sole sake. We do not think
II probable that any nation in Europe will elect
to incur that stigma. There is. moreover. rca-
son for believing that the Cars note not
altogether Il surprise. but that with mt least
some Of the chief Powers understanding
had been reached beforehand. assuring their
acceptance. Governments do not. as rule,
snub the Emperor Of lrssa. nor does the En-
pcror of Russia subject himself to likelihood
OF being snubbsd.
The conference. then. will be held. 1t may
not effect its ostcnsible purpose. of universal
disarmament. or at least reduction Of arina-
ments Perhaps not. But even so II will not
be failure There are other objects to be
served some of them already served. Of para
mount Importance. 1t Is no light thing that
the greatest commander of armies In the world
has placed himself irrpvOcably on record in
opposition to militarism. That Is something
that has not been done before Other military
sovcregns have lauded their armies as the
foundation and buttrcsses Of empire. and have
inscribed upon their cannon THE Kings Last
Argument" This one frankly declares huge
armies to be huge curses. and protests against
sacrificing to them further the interests of the
people T1at. We say. Is a great thing: because
henccforth forever the advocates of peace can
cite the words of this supreme War Lord in
their own behalf But there is another and n
greater thing. and that Is that the nations. even
"the captains and the kings" have been set TO
thinking about peace instead Of about war.
II Is true that no man can add a cubit
to his stature by worrying over his dwarfisll-
ness: hut 1t Is equally true that rs man
thinketh so Is he and IL Is true Of governments
and nations ms well as Of individuals For
many year tho mind Of Europe has been
hxed upon war until the nations are almost
"seeing red To-day the most commanding
voice upon the Continent adjures that mind
to fix itself upon peace The difference he
tween looking for war and looking for peace.
between planning and working for war and
planning and working for peace, Is all tho
difference in the world.
or this our own experience has recently given
two noteworthy examples. SO long rs this Ma
ton and Great Britain brooded over their real
or fancied wrongs and dlsagreements they held
aioof from each other and the unnatural mn
tagonism between them grew. Put the mo-
ment they began 10 think Of their mutual in
terests and fraternal ties and points Of friend
y contact their spirits rushed together