Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-20
sATURDAY......MAY 30, 1899 J..
THE PEACE CONFERENCE.

The peace conference is in session. and
fnere Is no reason why it should not af-
ford US an illustration of the peace and
go q fellowship that ought to exist among
the nations Of the earth. The com
rnissioners have nice quiet place in
which to meet, where they can stretch
their legs under the mahogany of the
young Queen of Holland, study through
The open windows the color scheme Of
beds Of tulips and thsorize upon, and
discuss. the beauties of peace. without
the least fear that harmony Will be dis
turte1. AS there is no quarrel to be
seaued. there will be no occasion for a
cross word. and the prospect is. that the
conference will be a happy family.
Moreover, there is reason to expect that
it will be a merry family for IT is hard
40 believe that these seigniors. be they
never so reverend and grave. will be
able to refrain from winking at one an
other and indulging in concert Of
smile, when something occurs 10 suggest
the contrast between what they
are there for" and what Is going on
in the outside world. Just at present,
The Gar. who started the movement,
is nagging Great Britain on the far side
of the globe. and causing the British I'M
easiness down in thu direction of the
Persian Gulf. He is also said to be quiet
by. but steadily. tanning tho embers in
the Balkans. and Austria Hungary is. we
are told, getting ready to push towards
Salonica. in case the flame bursts forth
Great Britain still maintains large force
in the Seudan. ready for any emergency,
and is, probably. on the verge of a
war with the TransvaaL and in partner
ship with the United States was recent
ly amusing herself pumping shell at the
Samoans. France, despite the spirit of
unrest at home, is clustering on the
CHINESE border. and Norway and Sweden
are threatening to hammer each others
heads. Last. but not least, this glorious
republic has demonstrated it's love Of
peace by purchasing a war in the Philip
pines. the close Of which no man can now
foresee, and may have to burn a good
deal of gunpowder In Cuba before its
humanitarian mission on that island
IS accomplished. In fact, Italy excepted
Germany, whose war lord" has been
frequently held up as q menace to tbe
peace of Europe, is the only Power worthy
OF consideration that is not a subject for
peace bonds.
Unquestionably all good people hope
that the conference will open the way to
universal peace, but neither the present
situation nor the result of past move
lnents of a similar character encourages
that hope. The Gar is not a pioneer in
this matter. One of the aims of the Holy
Alliance. It was claimed. was TO secure
general European peace, though that
compact caused the bristles of the United
States TO rise. and led to the promulga-
ton OF the Monroe doctrine. Further
more, as everybody knows, practically
IL didn't contribute TO the peace OF Eu-
rope. even temporarily. Clarendon at
tempted TO get up European concer, In
,the interest of peace; Metternich urged
disarmament, and Napoleon Ill mapped
out a plan for reciprocal stoppage OF
the growth of armies. But the commend
abe objects OF none OF these materaljzed
1t h due TO the Car TO say that he does
not propose that the nations shall shake
hands and swear Off from fighting all at
once. His idea is that If the conferees
agree on certain things suggested in his
note OF invitation TO the conference. the
airst steps Will have been taken toward
the millenial goal. But some of the most
essential things Nicholas asks agreement
upon the Powers have secuted hereto
fore. and we fear that when 1t comes to
The test. national ambitions and jeal-
-ousies. and tho distrust OF the Powers OF
'pne another. will impel them more than
ever TO pursue that course. In a word
We fear that the conference will pass
into history merely as a pleasant episode
In the lives OF the commissioners, and as
an Interesting exemplihcation of vision
ariness.