The Washington herald., 1913-05-18
Event Has Greater Significance This Year Than Ever Before
Buisson, Celebrated Author and Peace Advocate,
Sends Greeting to School Children.

ton, Is the most vital movement OF mod
ern times 1t is engaging the attention
of the most enlightened minds of the
civilized world Societies of noble mind
ed women, and organizations of worthy
men, are giving their support to govern
ment agencies in their effort to eliminate
armed conflicts between nations.
Perhaps some wars have contributed
to the uplift of organized society,"" con-
tinued Mr. Taft But more often the
benefits were utterly eclipsed by the ruth
less waste and slaughter and suffering
that followed. The principle of justice to
the weak as well as to the strong Is be-
coming more prevalent than ever before
in the history of the world. The battle
field as a place of settlements Of disputes
is gradually yielding to courts Of justice.
The interests of the great MASSES are not
being sacrificed to the selfshness. ambi-
lions, and ACKNOWLEDGMENT of sovereigns
nor to the intrigues of statesmen unwill-
ing to surrender their scepter of power.
Religious wars are specters Of medieval
or ancient past, and the Christian Church
is laboring valiantly to fulfill its destiny
Of Peace on Earth
David Starr Jordan. president of the Le-
land-Stanford University of California, Is
another great peace advocate. Insspeak-
ing of Peace Day and the reasons why
such a day should be set side In this coun-
try he said: international war has been
the curse of the European world. 1t has
virtually come TO an end because of its
tremendous cost. The nations Of Europe
are in the grasp of gigantic debts which
devour all the sums possible to be raised
through taxation. No war can be fought
save on borrowed money, and the great
international bankers, the Unseen En-
pire of Finance do not willingly loan
money to one nation. TO be used IN de-
stroying their own investments in bonds
and properties of another nation. d
War Debt Gigantic.
War debt began with the nineteenth
century. Not until the establishment Of
constitutional government mad nations
any credit in the world Of finance. The
bond Of king was VIGOROUSLY bad Sc
curity Since 1900 the war debts of the
nations have grown by leaps and bounds.
That of Europe as a whole amounts TO
more than Sa6,00o, 000, 900. bearing interest
at the rate of s1,15O 100000 per year. The
debt of France is nearly Sc, 000, 0o0, 900; that
of Russia, IS 600 900, 900; that of the United
Kingdom. IS, 700. Oo0, 600; that OF Germany,
including the debts of Prussia and Ba-
varia, nearly the same; that of Italy,
s. 500, Oo0, 000 that of Spain, 81, 800, 00o. 900;
that of Japan, 81, 800, 000, 600. All these end
less caravans of ciphers represent sums
which have never been paid, will never
be paid, can never be paid SO long as the
of national armament goes
on FOR practically the entire amounts
now raised by taxation in civilized nations
go into the support of armies and navies.
The United States. in splendid isolation
fror, old entanglements. without an
enemy in the world, and bound by ties Of
blood and commerce to all civilized ma
lions, spends 70 per cent of her income in
this way.
The total annual military expenses Of
the world is about s., SOC. 100000. The cost
of militarism in the whole world is nearly
81. COX. 600 yearly in time of peace. In
time of actual war the waste is incalcu-
able. Well may Bastiat observe that,
War is an ogre who devours as much
when he is asleep as when he is awake"
The 18th day of May, 1899, will always
be remembered as the Birthday of Peace.
On that day an event took place which
serves as a landmark in the history of
Unlike most world happenings,
this occurrence affects equally every civ
ilized nation on the globe, and it is neces- |
sary that everybody should understand its
meaning The anniversary of this event
is today, and like Christmas, the day is
destined to become a great international
day, which will proclaim good will among
all men.
In August. 1895. people all over the world
were surprised by letter addressed by
the Car to all the nations represented at
the Russian court. This letter was an
invitation to send delegates to a meeting |
to consider what could be done to keep |
nations from going to war with each
other. The Car stated that. for the best |
welfare of the world. the nations ought |
to restrict themselves in the spending of
such enormous sums of money for armies |
and navies. Every government invited |
accepted, and this included all the ma |
tons of Europe, the United States, and |
Mexico.
On account of the unique nature of the !
conference, the Gar thought II best not |
to hold ii in the capital of any one Of
the great powers. where so many political /
interests are conferred. He felt that this |
might hinder the work. and Holland was