The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-03-10
SUNDAY. MtRCH 10, 1901.
THE PROMISE OF PEACE.

While shepherds watched their tiockS
by night. something more than nine
1ecn hundred years ago. the angel OF
the Lord appeared unto them Win the
glad tidincs of peace on earth, soou
will 10 men" From that day to this
the gospel of peace has been preached
and the world has looked forward 10
the era of peace. when war would be
abolished and when men and nations
would settle their disputes by arbitra-
ton rather than by gun and sword.
But N.ir has not been abolished and
there have been. since the message OF
peace from heaven came, many bloody
struggles and thousands and hundreds
of thousands have been slain ON the
held of battle. AS civilization has adj
yanced. efforts 10 abolish war have
been greater and greater, but even in
this day Of advanced civilization there
are wars and rumors of war.
IT seems to us. however, that there
is brighter promise now than ever be-
fore of an era of peace, and, strangely
enough. that promise comes through
The industrial world. Ever since the
world began there has been coHpeti-
ton in trade, and competition means
war Men have fought with each 9th
er for the mastery in trade, corpora
lions have fought with corporations.
and no more vigorous, no more cruel,
rindictive or unrelenting warfare was
ever between nation and nation than
between man and man and corporation
and corporation in the business and in
luStrial world Too often it was 4
fight 10 the finish in which one or The
other side Went down in disaster. in
which even the victor was seriously
crippled. Bat men in the business
word are learning better. They are
1eal,rirg that competition is not the
life CT trade. as the maxim has it, but
than it is too often The death of trade
Business men are learning that it is
better for themselves and better for
The general public that business be
conducted by peaceful agreement rath-
er than by the methods of war. And
30 agreement is the order. of the day.
Railroad corporations and industrial
corporations have made terms with
one another and have agreed 10 live
1T peace
What is going 10 be the final out
COME of this policy Of combination and
agreement AVE do not profess TO know.
Ne believe that it is The correct policy.
and that il viii Work itself out 10 the
good OF all mankind But, however
That may he. it seems 10 us perfectly
clear that herein is the sign of peace
pu earth, il not goodwill 10 man. The
nations of the earth are largely con-
froiled by their men of affairs and ilc
policy Of government is largely direct
ed 10y The prevailing policy of trade.
Hence we conclude that when the
business men of the nation and of all
nations shall have demonstrated The
l,raciicahilily and The enormous adj
vantage of a policy of peace in the
business and industrial world. The
governments of these several and re-
spectiye nations viii recognize that
Ibis IS also 4 good policy for nations
ID adopt in their intercourse With one
another.
There is IN This peace in the indus
trial world promise of peace between
'lle nations Of The earth. just when
The era OF peace will Gene no man can
foretell, but il seems to us that the
signs are plentiful. and by stretch Of
The vision one may almost see the
dim light in The East Of the returning
star OF Bethlehem.