The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1900-01-25
The Hope of Arbitration.

PROBABLY never in the history of
the world has the spirit Of peace and
the desire to settle all international
difficulties by arbitration" been more
widespread than at the Zpresent mo-
ruent. Moreover, Notwithstanding the
noise of war is still in our ears, it is
also true that seldom, if ever, in the
worlds history has peace enjoyed a
longer reign and a wider dominion
than she can boast at the end of the
nineteenth century. At the close OF
the last century and at the beginning
of the present there was scarcely a ma
tiou in the world whose hands were
not red with the blood of recent
:s1aughters. From 1900 to 1915 Europe
was shaken by armies unrivaled IN
numbers since the days of Xerxes.
From the latter date until 1865 Jap
proximate1y) war held undisputed
sway over the nations of Europe and
America. Except for an occasional
disturbance of uninportance among
peace with the world since 1858; Ger
anany and France since II; Russia,
with the exception of the trouble in
@78. since SO, and the United States
since the close of the civil war. Dur
ing the last half of the century, there
fore, peace has been maintained al
most unoroIen among the nations for
a period of over thirty years, whereas
in the first half of the century there
was incessant war.
There can be no doubt that the gen
lera1 tendency of the nations is toward
peace. 1t is the inevitable result of
the Ang1o-Saxon civilization. History
reveals it. However, despite the pre-
dominating influence of the Anglo
Saxon powers, the sphere of influence
of the Ang1o-Saxon civilization is still
comparatively small. Before it gains
supremacy, no doubt, great wars will
de waged. Meanwhile, it is the duty
of Ang1o-Saxons, especially the Ameri-
can and the Eng1ishman, to see to it
that the spirit and purpose of their
civilization is not undermined by the
secret workings of narrow prejudices
in the schools and colleges. To pro-
mote the possibility of arbitration in
the future it is imperative that history,
especially be taught in such way as
to avoid transmitting to coming gen
erations the jea1ousies and controver-
sizes that have divided their own coun-
try and others in times past. This is
not a new argument by any means,
but the recent action of certain in
structors in Chicago seems to indicate
that the preiudices of 100 years ago
against England are still alive and
even cherished among the teachers in
our city schools. If young Americans
are taught to look history square1y in
the face, it will not be long before fool
ish prejudices are discarded. and, at
the same time, something learned
thereby that will not only contribute
to the good will with which other ma
tions are regarded, but will bring to
light and suggest a cure for many of
the mistakes of their own country.
When one considers the very appar-
ent turning of universal sentiment,
under the guidance of Ang1o-Saxon
civilization, toward peace and the
peaceful arbitrament of the world IS con-
tentions, and the responsibility as we'll
as the opportunity given America in
the working out of the final purpose,
the thought is aroused at once that in
our educational system lies the hope of
the future peace of the world. In that
case it behooves the people to keep
their interest in the public schools
alive. They must demand that their
children be given a liberal education in
the true sense of the word. In proper
tion as their education is liberal will
they become capable of citizenship,
and upon the nature of their citizen
ship depends the success of. the Anglo
Saxon civilization as the means to
universal peace.
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