The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1911-03-31
UNIVERSAL PEACE

This paper humbly praises God that
there is growing sentiment for
peace. 1t looks forward to the day
with gladness when this sentiment
shall spread itself over the whole
earth as the waters now cover the sea.
1t refers to the fact with degree of
pleasure that this sentiment is being
energized and accelerated by men like
Andrew Carnegie. 1t compliments the
times in which it lives that this senti-
ment is not a mere fad of Mr.. Carne-
gie's. 1t congratulates the world that
this is not an irridiscent dream on
the part of this philanthropist. That
| it bears no relation to Titles Night
mare" 1t is supremely happy in being
able to say that in every enlightened
nation of the world distinguished men
of letters, men of science, men hold
ing prominent government positions,
men of wealth, men famous in all the
walks of life, are energetically hold
ing up Mr. Carnegie's hands in his
efforts to bring about an international
and universal peace.
Nations have gone mad over war be-
cause of the vaulting ambition of
those in authority, and of those ambi-
tious to obtain authority. Because war
in the raw has never been written cor
rectly. Because it's selfishness, it's des-
potism, its horrors, its anxieties and
sorrows have been kept in the back
ground Because false glamour has
been thrown around it.
Real war, it's ugly deformities, it's al
most abolition of the moral sensibil-
tiles, its wantonness, its seizure and
destruction of ones property, its raw
ages and pillages under the pretense
of military necessity, the deaf ear that
it gives to the wailing of women and
the cry of children in their deso1ation,
is hidden from the public behind gilt
tering uniforms, gold braid, scarfs,
sashes, plumes, capabilities, brass
bands and waving banners.
The masses all along the ages have
been deceived and blinded by the
pomp and pageantry of war
This paper transfers to it's columns
late special from Washington with
a great deal of pride and pleasure. The
dispatch reads:
Leading diplomats expect that with
in short time announcement will be
made from the White House and by
European chancellors of the formation
of a worldwide peace federation or
ganized under the leadership of Pres
ident Taft ;,
They declare that the first steps to-
ward this organization have already
been taken and that it already en-
braces Japan, the United States,
France and Great Britain.
1t has already been semi-officially
announced that Great Britain and
France favor such arrangements. Jap
an is also favorable The four coun-
tries mentioned would be able to pre-
serve worldwide peace by force if ne
cessary, and to compel other nations
to agree to a limitation of ornaments.
Diplomats say that the treaty between
the four nations is well under way
and will be simultaneously announced
in Washington, Toxic, London and
Paris.
Through Ambassador Uchida Japan
has positively disclaimed any inten-
ton of obtaining a naval base in Mex
leo and has even consented to abro-
gate the present treaty with Mexico.
What this paper wants to do more
than anything else is to line up the
churches for peace.
If all Christian denominations had
in all times followed in the footsteps
of the prince of Peace" and had sed-
ulously and uncompromisingly set
their faces against war the same as
the denomination of Friends" has
done, who believes that the war spir-
it would not have long since been
crushed out, and wars would have long
since been no more?
1t is an awful spectacle, it seems
to us, and whitening criticism upon
the potency and power Of Christianity
that nineteen hundred years after the
birth of Christ we find every Chris
tian nation nothing more nor less than
military encampment. More money
spent by every civilized nation for the
preparation of war than for the educa-
ton of its youth and the maintenance
of it's aged and unfortunate.
Let the churches, pulpits and pews,
truly follow in the footsteps of the
Prince of Peace" initiate the exam
pie of the Quakers, and say to those
in authority that wars must cease:
cease clarifying the man in uniform
and exalt the civilian, we have faith
to believe that wars and the rumors
of wars will be heard of no more for
ever