The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1905-08-25
THE BLESSINGS OF PEACE

THE BLESSINGS OF PEACE.
The industrial situation has rarely
had a parallel. Crops are abundant
and merchants are flocking to the
great cities to purchase goods. The
latter is, perhaps, the strongest vindl'
cation of the stability of present con-
ditions, for the merchants are always
in touch with the communities where
they live and are fairly accurate ba'
rometers Of public confidence, or the
reverse. There is nothing in sight to
shade the picture. Were panic to
occur in the stock market it would
not effect it. 1t is only when indus.
trial prosperity is doubtful or unreal
that the natural results Of stock gam
bling can upset it and bring on oris-
is. Under such conditions the people
are expectant and restless anyhow,
and q slight scare will precipitate a
manic. There is no evidence of any
thing of the sort. The people are
confident because they have just
basis for being confident, and there is
no ordinary or extraordinary factor
which can disturb the situation.
Never has there been more strik-
ing illustration, from material
standpoint, of the advantages OF peace.
Two great nations with which this
country is on friendly terms have
been engaged in war for eighteen
months, and it is possible to contrast
their condition today with that which
prevails here. Eighteen months ago
Russia was considered the greatest
empire on earth. While her industri-
al methods were, according to modern
notions rather slipshod, she was new
ertheless forging ahead, and her con-
ditien was really better than ever
before in her history. Today her peo-
pie are in revolt; some of the greatest
centers of industry are paralized,
number of her provinces are threaten
ed with starvation and she has lost
hundreds of thousands Of men-and
good men, too, for they have shown
their patriotism by their willingness
to die.
Japan is not in quite as serious q
situation as Russia, but she, too, has
lost hundreds of thousands OF valuable
lives, and has strained the resources
Of the empire to the breaking point.
Both countries have borrowed heavily
to carry on the war, and each is look
ing longingly to outside capitalists
for more. Were the war to end to-
morrow it would take Japan at least
a generation to rally from the effects
of it, though she has been victorious
on every field. When the situation of
the United States is compared with
tue condition of these belligerents, one
of whom has won victories and the
other has suffered defeats, it provides
the most, striking ohject-lesson ever
furnished Of the folly of war and the
advantages of peace.
The industrial situation in the
United States today is such that moth
ing but dataclysm or war can over
throw it. A cataclysm is not rea-
sonable hypothesis, so it may be as
sured that nothing but war is likely
to affect it. By minding it's own bus
mess strictly and not interfering with
the affairs of other nations, something
that is easily done, the United States
need have no fear of war. There is no
nation on earth that will pick a quar-
rel with this country, unless We 60
out of our way to give provocation.
-Baltin,ore San.