Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-01-10

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lines parallel with that upon which work.
ed the martyr Lincoln the man II whose
heart dwelt no shaved of revenge or self
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. We glory in the man.
hood, the self-sacrifice developed and dis
played in those trying times: and IL the
opposite qualities sometimes appeared.
we will leave them in the valley of For
Igetfulness.
We are holding the conviction that the
victory for the Union sent thrill of hope
and joy around the world. and that thrill
has not yet ceased its vibrations. nor
ever will
We are privileged to live in a decade
within which two world conferences have
been held to discuss and devise means
for the prevention of war. The first. held
1899, was attended by delegates from &c
sovereign nations. Its primary object. as
stated in the call. was to consider dis
armament This was decided to be inn
practicable at that time. so the rlost I'm
portant result of that conference was the
establishment Of permanent court of
Arbitration sitting at The Hague.
The second conference, held In 1907. was
attended by delegates from 46 sovereign
1dtlOIlS. L Will IOt NcdlS Soi os liS ms
to mention all the results OF this; confer
ence. but give few in the words of a
reliable authority. The message of The
Hague conference to US Is 4 message Of
the increase of peace. 1t has so changed
the rules of war as to do away With
much Of the cruelty and barbarism con-
nected with it. 1t has given increased
security to neutral nations in time of
war 1t has greatly STRENGTHENED the
world sentiment in favor of a peaceful
arbitration Of international difficulties. 1t
has removed some of the causes leading
to war and placed them in the field Of
arbitration 1t has adopted an article
giving to either of two dsputant nations
the right to appeal directly to The Hague
court. Heretofore no such reference OF
the case was possible till both nations
agreed to it. It's action will surely lead
to the strengthening and dignify!ng the
power Of the permanent court of arbi-
tration. It voiced O universal sentiment
for disarmament which cannot fail to
have weight. 1t established the principle
that sovereign states in conference have
equal voice. without regard to their mill
tary power. 1t provided for continuance
of its work through another world confer
ence Of nations.
How, then, ask, can a large part of
the press of both Europe and America
pronounce that conference a failure: I
believe it has kindled flame the steady
CLEAN of which. charging year by year.
will yet enlighten n world which knows
war only as ancient history.
It Is not a long look ahead to the time
,ts, N11 will
lions OF dollars which a grateful govern
ment is pouring into the hands of the
survivors will be turned into other cham
nels.
I profess no prophetic vision I only
hope that 1t may not be expended in rails
ing monuments Of granite and marble or
of death-dealing warships. but rather
monuments Of peace. in cleaning up the
slums Of overcrowded cities. in building
adequate bones for the unfortunate. in
uplifting humanity everywhere.
May the comfortable homes which in
different parts OF the country are shell
tering the veterans of war. when no
longer needed b. them, become the homes
of the manned. the blind. the weak ones
of the nation. May the spacious hospi-
tails connected with them then minister
to the comfort OF the sick and despairinS
Religionists the world over are seeking
to unite their forces the better to aug
merit the power Of the gospel. The world
moves, Slowly but surely: and best Of
all, it is moving toward that glorious day
which shall usher in the Millennium.
Meantime. we are holding to the prom
Use that sometime we shall know as we
are known" and thereafter walk no more
alone.