The mirror., 1914-04-02
IS UNIVERSAL
PEACE POSSIBLE?
The Author Of This Very Interesting Chau-
tauqua Paper Takes an Optimistic View
of the Future Relations of World Pow
erS, and Tells Why.
CONDITIONS DEMANDIT
By f. Il. r.

| L
but probability, despite the fact
that the nations of the world are
spending more money on, and en-
plOying more men in their warlike
preparations, than ever before.
do not wish to infer that this
peace is already here, but l do be-
lieve that ere the sun of this twenti-
eth century has sunk low on times
horizon the art of war will be a
thing of the past.
Let us for moment 60 back over
the ages, and see what wonderful
progress has already been made
along this line. In Biblical history
we find that 1t was an annual occur
renee for the small kingdoms, or
what we might now call settlements,
to go to war with one another.
Coming on down to more modern
times we find that the European
countries. which were then divided
into clans, were still continually
waring, the stronger against the
weaker. Later on we find that
these clans united into groups or
small countries, each clan settling
its disputes with other clans of it's
group. by peacable means but con-
tinuing to fight against other groups
whenever there was a chance to gain
a little glory, or pelf. Later, as in
the case of Germany or the British
Isles, these countries united under
still larger heads, leaving their inter-
nal disputes to be settled in the
courts but uniting to protect them
selves from common enemy. In
many of these later changes each
division of the country remains self
governing, but the national govern
ment controls all means of defense,
just as our national government con-
trolls the defense of this country
while the states make most of their
own laws.
Only one more step in this direc-
tion is necessary to bring about
world peace, and that is a union of
two or three of our great powers to
demand the settlement of all disputes
by peacable means.
Incentives For Peace
What Will cause the nations to
take this step? One thing is. that
the vast amount of money spent
on their ornaments is rapidly i'm
poverishlng some of the European
nations. Another is the great awak-
ening of the people to the benefits
accruing from a union that would
protect their lives and property
from the attack of an enemy; and
last but not least, l believe that the
spirit of the Brotherhood of man is
fast gaining ground throughout the
entire globe. In this l will find
many who will dispute with me, but
despite all the arguments of the pes
simists, | believe that this old world
of ours is growing better every day,
and the commandment given nearly
two thousand years ago to love our
neighiors as ourselves. is being lived
up to closer today than ever before
IT'S true that we hear of more evil to-
day than heretofore. but why? Sim
ply because there's never was such
means of disseminating news through
the press and otherwise as we have
foIor A1oO nu,. iIooo of yiorh< opI
wrong are fast advancing, and what
we may now look upon as most base,
was formerly passed by without COM
ment. On the other hand there is
scarcely day passes but what we
hear of some one doing some great
deed for the benefit of his fellowmen.
A few weeks ago we read of large
manufacturing concern setting aside
ten million dollars to be divided
among their employees during the
coming year. Andrew Carnegie,
that great champion of the peace
movement has contributed $26,500,-
900 for the benefit and uplifting of
his fellowmen. Not only in this
country but from all corners of the
globe we hear of such doings, and
these are but mere reflections of the
increasing desires of men to help
their fellowmen.
Nation Dwells In Cottage
In the olden times wars were fre-
quently declared on account of some
whim of a king or other ruler; but
now, as one of the worlds greatest
statesman has said: The nation in
every country dwells in the cottage"
and with our modern governments