The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-25
CHRISTMAS Time
IS UND|STURBED
No Note Of Discord to Mar
the Anthem Of
Bethlehem.
STILL RUMoRs OF WARS
But Year Is Closing With Good
Omens for Peace of the
World.
STILL RUMoRs OF WARS
ny WI. T. STEAD.

Especial Gable to The Times Dispatch.1
London, December 24-Christmas
this year is undisturbed by any note
of discord in the anthem Of Bethlehem
so far. at least, as 1t relates to inter-
national peace. There are still rumora
of wars but there is no war wagins
at present either on the sea or the
land. Not only is this so. but the year
is closing with many good omens for
the future OF the campaign In favor Of
international peace.
In this field the honors undoubtedly
lie with the Americans. The Carnegie
beauest is only one of the many signs
that the leadership of the world in
the direction OF the establishment OF
international peace by arbitral justice
is the recognized prerogative OF the
United States. The role lis one to which
the republic seems to be summoned by
It's history. The men who have fed
Grated continent are those to whom
we naturally look as the federators
of the world
Taft View Visionary.
The declaration of President Taft in
|
some great nation which would allow
every Issue to be settled by arbitra-
tlon. no matter what 1t involved,
whether honor, territory or money, Is
very magnificent. but 1t Is not politics.
Any nation that adopted so heroic an
attitude might find itself confronted
by a demand so preposterous that no
government that entertained 1t would
exist for an hour II an arbitral de-
oil na yaH IN n Sa a
absolutely final. President Taft may
resolute until the COWS come home In
favor OF arbitration without reserve.
RE must either reserve subjects that
nations regard as a matter Of life and
death or you must reserve the ulti-
mate right to appeal to the sword.
Until there Is such universal agree
ment to refer all questions which can
not be settled by negotiations to arbi-
tration 1T Is most important that thers
should be permanent court instituted
for the purpose of deciding whether
| the questions in dispute do or do not
| come within the categories on which
| arbitration has been admitted to be
obligatory.
Kings Health Not Good.
The King and his court have gone
and 1t would be a good thing II after
| Christmas the King could take thres
| weeks holiday for cruise In tina
Mediterranean. His health is by no
means all that could be desired Thera
/ is nothing serious the matter with
| him beyond more or less nervous
inertia which reacts on the digestive
organs, which are by no means strong.
| Those who have met him at shooting
parties recently have been much i'm
pressed by the absence OF vigor and
| good spirits. He Is silent and de-
| pressed, q great contrast to his father,
who was always jolly and full Of con-
versation. The royal parties in which
the King holds his tongue are some
| what dismal assemblages. for 1t is
etiquette that he King should lead
the conversation. The inability of the
present Empress of Russia to keep
conversation going has sometimes led
| to such embarrassing consequences
that the circle around her and the i'm
| perial parties have been almost
| gathering of mutes.
Veto Dill VIII Pass.
Before going to sardringham the
King gave an audience OF three
quarters of an hour to Premier AS
quith, who came up to town for this
purpose. and who has gone back to-
spend his Christmas IN Scotland Theirs
is no difficulty Of any kind between ths
/ King and the Prime Minister. It Is req
ognized on all sides that His Majesty
has no choice but to act upon the ad-
vice of his constitutional advisers.
AS they have lust come back from
the country with a slightly increased
majority on this definite issue the King
must see fhe veto bill through Parlia-
! ment
All the Wild talk of the few extrema
/ indictments finds no echo in the court
or with responsible leaders of the
! peers. There will. of course. be-
great deal of protest, possibly a SOL
EMMY recorded vow that they will
repeal the veto bill when they come
back to power, but the peers will yield
j to force maieure,' and a controversy
/ between the peers and the people will
be adjourned for the next ten years.
Unionist Factions in Feud.
/ The Unionists have not only been
beaten at the election; they have been
thoroughly demolished Evidence con-
tinues to multiply that the aerce feuds
about to take place Will be between
tariff reformers and those who side
tracked tariff reform by brin gina
| referendum before the country on the
eve of election.
i Austin Chamberlain has not yet
! spoken. but the newspaper recognized
as his organ al Birmingham has de-
clared 1t cannot honestly say 1t can
> look back With unaltered satisfaction
i on the election and the changes In
I policy which have accompanied 1T. 1t
goes on to intimate there must not
i be any more talk concerning the sub
hitting of tariff reform TO vote OF
j the people, Whenever a general cleo
/ ton takes place on tariff reform that
general election may be regarded as
the equivalent to referendum, and o
tariff reform budget can be passed
t,A ,.aya ~ Nc ,n~ Al
This sounds very much like an ui-
timatum from Chamberlain. but he-
yond indicating source OF trouble for
4 the Conservatives il is OF no practical
| Importance. Tariff reform is as dead
\ as n door nail
/ Alpine Climbers Killed.
Especial Cable 20 The Times plspatch,I
Geneva, peeember a{,--AceordiRg to stat4
ties published by the Swiss nswsPapers, ths