Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-05-12
THE PEACE
CONFERENCE
Eloquent Addresses Made Last
Night BY
DISTINGUISHED SPEAKERS.
For the Time When Birds Shall Build
Their Nests in the Can
nous Mouth.
DISTINGUISHED SPEAKERS.

The peace conference" which was
held at the Auditorium last night under
the auspices of the Woman's club of
largely attended by the cultured people
of the city, but the addresses OF the elo-
quent gentlemen selected as speakers
fairly bristled with the spirit of war, and
were scarcely in keeping with the avowed
purpose Of the meeting.
The meeting was called to give express
sion Of approval to the efforts of the
peace commission which will meet at The
Hague on the 10th of this month in re-
sponse to the invitation of Gar Nicholas.
Mrs. Holbrook, vice president Of the
Woman's club, presided, and introduced
Rev. DR.. E. J. Groeneveld as the first
speaker. His subject was the Cars
lManifesto," and he prefaced his remarks
by saying that the success of the Ameri-
can nav in the Spanish-American war,
had opened the eyes of the European ma
tons and made them all feel for their
future safety. Then came the cars in
~vitation to all the powers to send repre-
sentatives to The Hague to consider the
propriety of a general disarmament. The
speaker considered this proposition of
Russia as very significant. The mass of
Americans, he said, were in sympathy
with such a movement, but the question
Of disarmament did not affect the United
States, but belonged wholly to the Euro
pean covers. The millennium could not
be brought about by the passing of a
single resolution. Under certain circum-
stances war was justifiable and a neces-
sity. 1t was the duty of a Christian ma
ton to make war for self-defense and
the vindication of principles. A war for
humanity was right. DR.. Groeneveld
said that the American people would
welcome any movement tending to bring
about universal peace. but there had
been, and probably always will be, wars
that are just and right. He referred to
the atrocious massacres of Arnenians
and the alleged powerlessness Of Euro
pean nations to interfere, and Of the Gu
ban expressions, which We're relieved by
American arms. He believed in peace,
but the only peace worth having was
peace with honor.
Rev. s.. c. Blackiston's topic was
peace and Progress He said that at
various stages of the worlds history
there had been peace meetings." but
they were not assemblies for the broad
purpose of the one that was about to as
semble at The Hague. They were gath
erings to express pleasure at the terminal
ton of some cruel war, or to urge the
powers engaged in deadly conflict to
cease their murderous strife. They We're
local in their aims and temporary in their
hopes. But this meeting and like meet
ings that are in session today, or will be
In session in the next few days all over
the land, and perhaps the civilized world,
have as their aim n purpose universal
and perpetual peace. 1t is a new expert
ence, but one worthy Of this enlightened
age. The conception is noble and when
the realization comes about humanity
will rejoice, and we'll it may, for it will
be the beginning of a new and higher
civilization. 1t will be a step forward
on the line of progress that leads to the
m~uch-talked-of goal the universal
brotherhood Of man.
g! trust some n will shows us to-
night" said he. Sin glowing words. how
war is productive of crime, how expen-
slve 1t is and how cruel it is, for when it
is portrayed in its true colors we shall
be able to appreciate the more how much
of a benefactor he will be who discovers
and establishes the machinery by which
national quarrels and disagreements can
De settled by some other means than that
of the sword. All praise be extended TO
the car for proposing a conference of
nations to consider the matter, and let
grateful thanks be given to the women
of the world for their earnest efforts to
further this ldealistic condition of men.
This much must be said for the ruler of
Russia. when the Alexanders and Caesars
and Napoleons have been forgotten he
will be remembered and revered as the
patron saint of nations as the first
mighty monarch who had courage enough
to say, Let us have peace"
Father Doherty, who recently returned