Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1906-12-06

hnA
--eat number OF countries to be con-
snlted upon every question that has
sr1sen 1t Is a matter Of satisfaction
that ali OF the American republics have
now. for the first time. been invited to
toin IN the proposed conference.
The close connection between the
subjects to be taken up by the Red
cross conference held at Geneva last
summer and the subjects which natu-
rally would come before The Hague
conference made II apparent that 1t
was desirable to have the work OF the
Red Cross conference completed and
considered by the different powers be-
fore the meeting at The Hague. The
Red Cross conference ended its labors
on the 9th Of July, and<the revised
and amended convention, which was
signed by the American delegates, will
Re promptly laid before the senate.
By the special and highly appreciat-
ed courtesy OF the governments Of Rus
STA and the Netherlands proposal to
call The Hague. conference together at
a time which would conflict with the
conference OF the American republics
nj Rio de Jaieiro In August was laid
aside. No other date has yet been sug-
eested. A tentative programme for
the conference has been proposed by
the government Of Russia, and the
subjects which II enumerates are I'M
dergoing careful examination and con-
slderation in preparation for the con-
ference.
Peace and Righteousness.
It must ever be kept In mind that
war is not merely justihabIe but i'm
perative upon honorable men, upon an |
honorable nation, where peace can only |
be obtained by the sacrifice Of con-
sclentious conviction or Of national |
welfare. Peace is normally a great
good, and normally 1t comedies with |
righteousness, but 1t Is righteousness,
and not peace, which should bind the
conscience Of a nation as 1t should
bind the conscience of an individual,
and neither a nation nor an individual
can surrender conscience TO another's
keeping. Neither can a nation which is
an entity and which does not die as
individuals die refrain from taking
thought for the interest Of the genera
tons that are to come no less than for
the interest Of the generation OF today,
and no public men have a right. wheth.
er from shortslghtedness, from selfish
Indifference or from sentlmentality, to
sacrifice national interests which are
vital In character. A Just war Is In
the long run far better for a nations
soul than the most prosperous peace
obtained by acqulescence In wrong or
Injustice. Moreover. though 1t Is Grim
nal for nation not to prepare for war
70 that It may escape the dreadful con.
sequences OF being defeated 10 war,
'et II must always be remembered that
wen to be defeated In war may be far 4
etter than not TO have fought at all.
IS has been well and finely said. a !.
eaten nation Is not necessarily a dis.
raced nation. but the nation or man
disgraced II the obligation TO defend ..
ght Is shlrked.
We should as nation do everything !
our power for the cause Of honora- .
e peace. II Is morally as lndefensible
" nation 20 commit n wrong upon
lother nation. strong or weak. as for
indivtdual thus to wrong his fel-
VS.. We should do all IN our power .
hasten the day when there shall bc y
race among the Rations--a peace based y
ION Justice and not upon cowardly "
omission TO wrong. We can accom- 9
lsh good deal In this dirSction, bur .
cannot accomplish everything. and x
penalty OF attempting 10 do too q
lch would almost inevitably be 10 do q
orse than nothing. for It must be re- d
smbcred that fantastic extremists
not IN reality leaders OF the causes
i.ch they espOuse but are ordinarily Ia
o>e who do most 90 hamper the real a
Iders % the cause and % damage the =,
lte itself As yet there IL no llkeii- =.
% Of establishing any Kind Of inter.
uonal power. OF whatever sort. "A
'.ch can effectively check wrOngdo- =,
Z aud In these circumstances n n,
.uid be both a foolish and an evil N
ng for a great aud FREE nation 60 ID
'rive Itself % the power 20 protect "a
own rights and even IN exceptional M
- 10 stand up for the rights o. 9th -
Nothing would more promote IN a.
lV. nothing wOuh further defer the -,
81 upon earth o. peace and right m
.sness. than Tor tibe FREE and enllghi- III
q pNopie1. who. though with much a.
nbling and many shortcomings. / \.
ertheisss strive toward justice. de- ,h
'Faiely % render themselves power. n,