Daily Kennebec journal., 1911-03-16
The SHAPING of World Events.
For what are world events shapin
themselves ?''

ward. we see the shadow of war. i
is but step from one to the other.
| An act of peace may he the very
thing lacking 10 precipitate war L
the Maine had not been sent to Ha
Ivana harbor, the Spaniards might still
be exercising their derIorablo rule
lover the Philippines.
j The year 1911 seems destined Ia b,
study the scriptures we are led L
conclude that it is the dividing o
time; it is the beginning of new
Iera; We are led to expect Christening
tGreat minds laden with the practical
affairs of the world are impressed with
the nearness of a crisis in world af-
fairs. The remarkable utterances oi
Sir Edward Grey in the British House
of Commons, Monday night, are sieniii-
cant. He said, in effect. that unless
the mischief of militarism is brought
home to mems feelings as well as to
their minds, the growth of armaments
must in the long run break civilization
down.
What construction are we to place
Iupon these words other than that
| mems hearts as we'll as their heads
/ must be educated peaceward?
Armies are reflections of national
instincts. Their maneuvers advertise
| our defiance of the rest of the world,
or bare our biceps before the eyes OF a
weaker sister.
President Mckinley was markedly a
kind hearted man of peace His we'll
meant expression of friendship for
another nation resulted in war. and Il
change in the world possessions and
diplomatic calculations of the century.
The scene of action slipped over to the
Pacific in a moment.
President Taft is man of great
heart and living hope for better things
Yet while Sir Edward Grey is voicing
a world sentiment with the star of
hope suspended over America as a
possible leader to disarmament and
world peace, President Taft sends our
army and navy TO form fighting cor
don aroune Il friend in need.
What is to come out of it--a has
tening of that ideal which Sir Edward
Grey, foreign secretary of Great
Britain, has dared to dream, or the
reverse and the longest, bloodiest and
most terrible war the world has known
grow out of it, like gigantic oak from
a little acorn3 Militarists have pre-
dicted. Bible students have prophesied.
and the world has oscillated between
hope and fear.
A London dispatch, touching Sir
Edwards words, says: BY universal
consent it is the most important
announcement made in Parliament
in many years. and if some Con-
servative morning papers, taking the
ground that the foreign secretary's
ideal is almost impossible of attain
ment, comment somewhat coldly and
point to the difficulties in it's path. the
Liberal organs bail it with unbounded
enthusiasm and express strong resent
ment at the scoffing remarks heard
from the Conservative benches while
Sir Edward was speaking, such as
How about Mexico?' and similar inter
jections offensive to the United
States
Henry Norman said: The wagon of
the English speaking peoples is now
hitched TO a star. The rest NAV come
slowly, but it will come and it will
date from 1911" Other progressive
members of the House of Commons
expressed similar opinions
The London Evening Standard held
that "a real and natural dual al
lance would be not that between Eng
land and France or England and
Japan. but between England and the
United States If, said the Standard,
these two government could agree that
the ornaments Of one should be avail
able to resist an attack upon the
other there could be no more danger
from aggression, either in the Allan
tic or Pacific regions.
The Pail Mall Gazette said that Sir
Edwards response to President Taft's
suggestion. carries with it the full
strength of English feeling and opin-
ion."
The Westminster Gazette expressed
| the hope that this great movement of
Notwithstanding people toward peace
| would so forward and prosper
1t is the first response to President
| Tafts suggestion to the Powers look
| ing toward disarmament. II is en-.
couraging but, meantime, let us be
prayerful against overt acts on the
Mexican border
n 19-year-old girl Minnie Hobart of