Newark post., 1913-05-14
THE ADVANCE OF THE
PEACE MOVEMENT

hFFiS passing y ca iI"iN9 q !
more widespread observance Of .
May 18-International Peace Day, !
which the advocates Of worldwide p.
peace hope will become one Of the !
chief holidays Of the civilized world
Arbitration and all for which it
stands has ever been a popular
cause in the United States At two
successive annual conventions, the
National Educational Association
has urged widespread dissemina
ton of knowledge concerning
world peace. Mr.. p. p. ClaXton,
National Commissioner of Eluca-
ton, has twice recommended the
celebration of May Is in the public
schools of the United States. The
School Peace League, a branch of
the American Peace Society, has
been organized and distributes lit
erature and excellent programs to
be used on the anniversary III the
schools.
Since May IS, 1899, when one
hundred men, representing twenty
of the great countries of the world,
met at The Hague and formed the
first great peace conference of the
world, few years have been filled
with so much Of interest to the stu
dent Of universal peace, as the one
Just coming to close-a period
during which war has been going
on officially every day. Although a
considerable amount Of the time has
not been devoted to the active pur-
suance Of military campaigns, leg
ally there has been a state of war
This condition has attracted much
attention to the peace movement.
The pacifst enthusiasts have had
questions hurled at them: how, i'll
view Of the propaganda, do you ex-
plain the outbreak Of the war; how
does it act in respect to the usual
facts of war, the disturbance Of com
merce, the unusual need Of capital
in unaccustomed quarters for an
obviously economically unprofit'
able purpose, the attitude toward
the new features Of warfare, and
toward the victims thereof. "
Denys P. Myers, the publicist OF
the World Peace Foundation, de
fines the Peace Movement as made
up of minds who appreciate things
as they are. from which coign OF
vantage they are trying to bring
the world to where it ought to be
This means, Mr.. Myers adds, "tht
establishment of the relation Of ma
tons on a basis Of mutual justice
hardened as far as possible into
general laws. "
Such work must be directed to
ward two ends: the education o
public opinion and the securing o
international legislation to insure
results from the difficulties that in
cyitabIy arise, and will continue Il
arise. between the living entities 0
the family Of nations. The pacl
fists Of the present day are inclln
eI to consider nation as acting il
accordance with their principles j
it does Justice to its own people Il
respect to their human rights an'
national opportunities and if it
foreign relations are based on prin
ciples of justice rather than prin
ciples Of selfishness and determ
ination to have its own way desplt
everything.
If such a thesis Of pacifst pun
poses is accepted, it can readily b
seen that such conflicts as the Tul
co-Italian and Balkan Wars an
Mexican Revolution indicate tn
negation of those principles. A
most the sole object of pacifists ]
these instances can be to seek {
rapid a cessation of hostilities {
possible.
There are nearly fifty sovereig
nations in the world. In the la
year six have engaged in war an
one in revolution. The rest Of tt
world has been at peace and
general has not cOuntenanced Il
conflicts that have been wage
These have brought home to ne1
trails the disorders and horrors (
modern war and have tended larg
ly to increase "a sentiment fl
maintaining peace, real adval
tage, even if gained at too great
cost.
Let us follow some of the activ