Arizona republican., 1904-10-19
The Peace Congress.

The delegates to the international peace congress in Boston. now ad- journed. seem to be impressed with the conviction that this years meeting is a long step toward the attainment of universal peace on earth. When such gatherings were first held they were largely in the nature of experiments. The friends of peace by no means saw their way clear to the desired goal They were looked upon as dreamers and charlatans. It is different now. The road is commencing to appear more distinctly in its various steps. The discussions assume a more prac- tical character than formerly. Arbi- tration treaties are suggested. Inter national courts are discussed. And sol on. Even the war lords" are listening with interest to the arguments made. One of the practical suggestions made by this congress was the establishment in the leading cities of the world of branches of the international peace bureau at Berne. SO that the masses Of the people might be reared to the un- derstanding that international har- mony among all people was the sane and natural principle of life.
 An interesting feature of the con- cluding exercises of the gathering was the reading Of the secretary. MT. True blood, of An Appeal to the Nations" It concluded as follows:
 ''The congress at the conclusion of Te Nn Fa Ia of all nations and of all classes to arouse themselves to a finer and more adequate conception of their rights in the determination of the foreign pol icies pursued by their governments that they may no longer be involved without their consent in foolish and ruinous wars with other powers or in the unjust exploitation of those who they are bound by every consideration of righteousness and honor to assist and elevate rather than to plunder and degrade. It respectfully invites all the national sovereigns and presidents. all ministers of religion. all instructors of youth in schools of every grade and all others who wield influence in the moulding and directing of public opin- ion to throw the entire weight not only of their personal influence. but of their
 
 causes of misunderstanding and con- fiict and the creation of such a com plete system of international education and such wide reaching pacific public sentiment as will in time render the barbarous method of war impossible"
 A somewhat singular feature of the Boston congress was an appeal by learned Hindoo to the Christians to let the Hindoos of India alone, and not attempt to force Christianity upon them. That would, at a first glance. appear to be a subject foreign to the business of the peace congress; but it. Is absolutely certain that from relig- ious bigotry have sprung more strife and i'll feeling among the children of men than from any other cause. China presents a recent example The charge that missionaries were the chief cause of the Boxer uprising a few years ago, which resulted in much loss of life and numerous horrible atrocities, was never successfully re- futed. Many of the native convertsI were slain. and the indications are that. before long there will be a similar up- rising in the northern part of China If Christians had learned the Christian doctrine of tolerance, peace would not be far off.
 A time was when Christians believed that all heathens would be damned if not converted Similarly, the Moham- medans thought it a pious duty to con- vert unbelieVers and those who re- fused to accept Islamism they put to the sword. But such notions are fad ing away. Why, then, should mission ary efforts take an offensive form in any part of the world? In the interest of peace. as well as truth, let the Christian sects in the world learn true tolerance.