The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1911-08-08
THE BEGINNING OF THE END.

THE BEGINNING OF THE END.
The one great accomplishment of
American craftsmanship of this dec
ade: the one great feat of the pres
ent national administration that will
stand out in bold type on the pages
of history in connection with the
name OF William II. Taft is the CON
summation Of the peace agreements
between France and England. or
all the blessings pronounced upon
the sons Of men by the humble Naza-
rene in the sermon on the mount.
the greatest blessing Is that pro-
nounced upon the peacemakers. for
they shall be called the children OF
God" President Taft and secre-
tary Knox are peacemakers in a
worldwide, epoch-making way. They
have earned the gratitude Of the
future generations yet unborn. who
win open their eyes in world freed
from the hell-born demon of war.
The signing Of the treaties means
the definite beginning OF the end OF
slaughter OF man BY fellow man.
The treaties signed provide that
all disputes arising between either
Of these nations and the United
States. even in cases where the nat
ional honor Is involved. shall be
submitted TO arbitration. Had some
one dared predict decade ago that
the worldwide peace propaganda
would have achieved such tangible
results within so short a time. the pre-
diction would have brought only
cynical sneers. The signing Of the
treaties Il an event so far reaching
in its affects, such an immense and
unexpected step forward that the
prosaic public OF today scarcely real
izes what a turning point in all his
tory il Is witnessing. The establish
ment OF reciprocal relations with
Canada as an accomplishment Of
President Taft sinks into insigni-
iicance beside the establishment of
peace relations with two Of the most
powerful nations OF the world.
There has been considerable muir.
muring here and there against the
provision which includes so-called
.insults to national honor" In the
treaty. Among ttsse to protest
against this provision has been tbs
fire eating contributing editor q ths
Outlook. Looked al from a common
sense view point there are no I'm.
suits to national honor" no more
than there are affairs Of honor
between individuals. There vas !
tune when, even in North Carolina
,rifing Insults 10 personal honol
we're matters for deadly pistol duels
I'VE do not have duels now becausi
Ne realize that duels are foolisl
reilcg u barbarism. Men have a
great A sense Of honor now as the
lever had and men insult each other
honor jBst az much now as they eve
ldld: but We manage 10 rock alonI
ven well without duels as q public
liz sanctioned institution. n ID
good old days, q light slap IN u
face vas deadly insult becaus
custom made Il 50. After awhile y
saw the fOolisbness and sayagery 9
such q custom. and affairs Of homo
asre sent 70 the scrap heap. E1acl
III the same change will finally com
over the custom Of nations In thel
relations 20 each other The reaso
that insults 10 national pride wei
formerly 70 frequent vas that Il
suits d national honor served rulei
a. excuses 70 20 Oh rsids 81 conquei
and personal glory. with our dARi
ling civilization. the common Poop
are beginning 20 realize the empi
ness u so.taiIed insults that I'D ii
lions into bloody conflict. eathol
cgse this realization and war viii
no more.
Before the peace treaties are hns
" ratified By the senate, they VI
have done 10 them what have BE-,
done 10 few treaties before this lin
-they viii be published, IN ord,