Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-06-06
THE ONLY BASIS FOR PERMANENT PEACE
sx BISHOP w. a. cANDLnR.

The dream of universal peace has en-
thralled the minds of men in all ages.
Prophets have predicted it's coming with
joy, and seers have seen from afar its
dawn with gladness. Poets have painted
in glowing lines it's golden glories, and
philosophers have proclaimed in feryent
words the excellencies of such an era.
The time seems at hand when the
vision of peace is to have Its fulfllment.
1t is no longer the dream of elevated
and monumental souls. Statesmen are
beginning to frame treaties that provide
for it, and even the hard, commercial
world agrees that 1t is both desirable
and practicable. A millionaire manufac-
turer of steel has given fund of $1OOOO,-
900 to promote International peace. Chris
tian men of all shades of belief well
come the approach of the day of peace.
when the war drums throb no longer,
and the battle flags are furied
In the Parliament of man, the Federation
of the world"
Where can a man be found so base
that his heart beats not in sympathy
with the hope that soon the nations will
cease forever from their bloody con-
hicts?
But in our enthusiasm for universal
peace we must not omit to consider the
basis of peace, If peace is to bless man
kind and to endure This basis is in the
intelligence and virtue of the people of
all lands. Men must know what is right
and care for what is right, or worldwide
peace can not last long nor be an I'M
mixed blessing while it lasts. Nothing
can bring permanent peace but the tri-
umph of principles of righteousness; for
otherwise the lovers OF peace would be-
come the prey of the unprincipled and
domineering. When the era of peace is
wider than the domain of principle it is
an area of injustice ana oppression, over
which might reigns without regard for
right Such peace is worse than war.
1t is to be feared that many men de-
sire universal peace for commercial
reasons only, ana are looking for it's
coming through the constraining power
of peace. But 1t is not in greed to give
peace. Covetousness can not cleanse the
world of war and strife. On the contrary,
it is essentially selfish, and, therefore, 1t
is the source of contention rather than
the author of peace. A peace which
rests on commerce alone will endure no
longer than it is profitable. Commerce
makes wars when it pays to fight, and
urges treaties of peace when 1t finds war
no longer lucrative.
Schemes of international politics and
diplomatic combinations can not force
peace on the world. Nations will not
submit more patiently to wrong wrought
by the arts of statecrarr than ley will
endure crimes done to them by force
of arms. Nothing but justice and right,
practiced by all nations, can bring world
wide peace and tranquility. And the peo-
pie must be able to know that justice is
done them and that righteousness pre-
walls for them as well as over them:
otherwise, designing demagogues will by
appeals to Imaginary wrongs inf1ame the
masses to rise in instruction against
the cause of righteousness itself But
how can they know except they be en-
lightened? and how will they care for
what they know is right except they be
virtuous?
We have the dawning of the day of
peace because of the enlightenment and
regeneration of the world which has be-
gun to be accomplished; but we can not
have the noontide glory of universal peace
until these beams of the morning spread
over all the world. We may have a state
of provincial peace, as[ for example,
peace between the English-speaking ma
tions; but that may easily degenerate in
to an alliance defensive and offensive
against all the rest of the world These
in their heart of hearts in absolute
righteousness towards all other nations
or their friendly relations among them
selves may become hostile associations
toward all other nations.
And we should remember that it is
not possible for men to believe and prac-
tice international morality towards for
eign nations in the absence of genuine
recognition of such a system in dealing
with their fellowmen in their own coun-
try. There is no law of right for men
In the bulk which does not apply with
equal force to the individual man. This
fact makes me rejoice with trembling
at meetings among us designed to pro-
mote international peace. How can we be-
have righteously towards strangers when
we wrong our own countrymen? We
would have peace with South Africa and
all Africa, and that is well; but can we
preach peace abroad and lynch Africans
at home? These horrible events in Geor-
gia were quite out of harmony with our
demands for the disarmament of the ma
lions. Again, Mr. Andrew Carnegie gave
$40 GOO, 900 to promote peace; but Mr.. Gates
testified that Mr.. Carnegie made much
of that money by unrighteous dealings
with his associates in business; does Mr..
Carnegie wish the nations to treat one
another as he treated his neighbours. ac-
cording to Mr.. Gates, and then that no
force be applied to them in order to
make them stop their evil doings? If that
be his view, his cry for international