Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-09-14
AN Able TALK ABOUT PEACE
BY William Evans Darby,LL.D..
of London, England.
THE CONFERENCE AT THE HAGUE
Its Real Significance Carefully
Explained.
Dr. Darby Was at The Hague During the
Conference and Conferred With It's Mem
bers-His Able Address Before tho Della
ware Peace Society.

Inc Slgnlncance OF the Peace Con-
ference at The Hague was discussed by
William Evans Darby, IL. D., of
London, Eng, secretary of the London
Peace Society, before the Delaware
| Peace Society in the Friends Meeting
House. Fourth and West streets, Monday
evening. George A. Rhoads, the presi-
| dent of the society, presided, and the
meeting was woll-attendeG. DIR. Darby
was introduced by David Ferris and
said in Eart
No one can appreciate the sigpif-
cameo of the Peace Conference unless
he has been studying the question for
some time The condition of things In
Europe was one of gradual yet rapid
growth of militarism during the last
century, during tho last half century
and especially during the last 90 years
or go. Happily, In this country you
know nothing of compulsory military
service which takes your sons at the
most promising age and makes them
serve whether they will or not. The
| great Powers have adopted as simple
necessity what they call CONSUMPTION,
OR what | call compulsory military
service. sle nations are in constant
state of suspicion and rivalry. They
oolk over their border and watch care
/ ioiiy oNoiJ lnofS Vi LlblE ublRuDUIs
Their acts in having large armies have
not saved them from war nor from the
alarm of war. Enormous figures beyond
| the power of the mind to grasp are
1 shown in the armies of Europe. At
the present moment 100000 men arc
actually with the colors;'' that is the
force of Europe on peace footing. If
war were declared, $1,000, 900 trained
men could be put 10 the field; and if
necessary. 80, 000 900 could be called
upon. These military establishments
are working their own cure; they make
war so terrible that rulers are hesilat-
ing to go to war. The actual state of
| things is so onerous and SO terrible
that it is only few steps less evil
and burdensome than war itself. 1t is
what the French term dry war;" that
is war without bloodshed, neyerthe-
| less war.
The nations of Europe, civilized and
Christian as they call themselves, are
engaged all the time in life and death
struggle. They live for war, and a
state of peace is but an armistice, a
parenthesis between conditions of ac-
tual war. During the last six years the
permanent expenditures of our own
country tEngland) rose by e12, 600, GOO.
Our naval men in the House of Com
mons argue that Notwithstanding the
millions of pounds spent, we have not
the necessary navy to resist an attack.
Thus unworthy suspicion is cast on
people across the channel, the French.
Then we are told that our feet is not
worth more than its value in old iron
and the House of Parliament votes mil
lions of pounds to be spent on new
j ships. Immediately the news of the
vote ian appropriation for $50, 900, 600
being instanced) was telegraphed to
the continent and France, Germany and
Russia started to talk about increasing
their military establishments.
Governments that are founded on
military system find it necessary to
keep up that system. There would
have been no war between France and
Germany in 1870 il it had not been for
the military men on both Sides The
people did not want war. | do not
think the people of France would be
anxious to fight England or those of
England would be anxious to fight
France. All they ask is to be allowed
to live in peace and to earn living for
themselves and families.
AS n result of conditions of suspicion
and alarm, nations are giving them
selves to the development of military
establishments. The danger from this
was we'll set forth by Punch in car
toon representing France ard Germany
as troopers riding side by side toward
"a Erecipice A man who lives above
his income becomes bankrupt and
that applies also to a nation. Perhaps
our own country has been better able
to stand the strain than others, yet
think it is hardly possible to make an
exception, even for Great Britain. The
nations have been going towards bank
ruptcy, for they have been living beyond
their means and il this thing con-
tinues there can be but ore result
bankrupts.
DIR. Darby TOOK up the reasons for
the Czar's peace proposal. He Said
that the Gear had nothing to gain per-
sonally, but was rather likely to an
tagonize some of his military people,
and his proposal is not explained by
his magnanimity, Military men whose
craft would he in danger take tho
grounu that the emperor had some
diplomatic scheme. q play upon the
old prejudice that Russia was not ready
for the inevitable conflict. Or. Darby
urged that with the motive of the pro-
posal we had nothing to do but to take
. it at its face value. He held that mill.
tary burdens have been incurred from
mistaken idea that one way to pre-
serve peacs is to be ready to fight.
Dr. Darby said this is utter insanity
and yet soberly the nations have been
following it. The Gear impeaches that
system as a total failure and the policy
as so burdensome that it cannot be
continued. He quoted from the Gear s
letter showing the great growth of
military establishments in the last 20
years.
The question of arbitration has been
agitated for four years. A memorial
was circulated and signed by more
than 10000 men, urging the English
government to take steps similar to
what the Gar has taken, yet the Eng
lish government could not take such II
step, for it had put itself under sus-
pIcion on account of its actions in the
Soudan, South Africa and elsewhere.
1t was not for Germany or France to
make the proposals; nor for the Ameri-
can President, for the United States
have done we'll in holding themselves
aloof from the quarreis of the Old
World; but it remained for the EN-
peror of Russia, who had no past, no
record, to hinder him and who was in
an independent position and therefore
he could make the proposal.
The proposal was accepted and the
discussion was had on lines laid down.
For two months this summer represen-
iatives of 2G of the civilized Powers
met at The Hague to find some way of
general appeasement with a view of
/ II Il. H.