The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-10-07
DUTY TO HASTEN PEACE.
SECRETARY BRYAN SPEAKS IN
NEW YORK.
No Nation Can Live or Die Unto Itself
Alone. Declares Great COmn.Oncr-
All Must Give Aid for Common
Good,

New York. Oct. 4.--Hope that the
European war will be tho last object
lesson of the horrors OF strife and
that after 1t the efforts of man will
be devoted to production rather than
destruction was expressed today by
Secretary of state Bryan and Oscar
). straus. former secretary of COM
merce and labor. ut a special peace
day service ut Carnegie hall. The
meeting was one of many held in this
city In accordance with President
Wilson's recent proclamation dcs-
ignating today AZ a day for prayer tor
peace.
To-day, when a number of nations
all our friends. have been drawn into
the vortex Of war;" said Secretary
Bryan, "our first duty Is to use such
influence as we may have to hasten
the return Of peace. There will be am
pie time afterward to discuss ways
and means for preventing future ap-
peals to srms.
Our interests are so entwined with
the interests of other lands that no
nation can live or die unto itself
alone. II we had no higher reason
Tor encouraging conditions conducive
to peace, we should find ample jus
tiication In the fact that the burdens
OF war no longer are borne entirely by
Its direct participants.
I'VE must not be discouraged II
this. the greatest of all wars, broke
out Just when we were most hopeful
Of the substitution o. reason for force
In the settlement Of international dis.
putes. 1t may be that the world
needed one more awful object lesson
to prove cOnclusively the fallacy of
the doctrine that preparedness for
war can give assurance of peace. This
assumption is built upon the theory
that peace rests on fear, whereas all
history proves the contrary. Most of
the errors In international affairs arise
from failure to understand the fun
danental truth that moral principles
are as binding on nations as on in
a'.iauais' ia. = sAkIlIn
One encouragement to be drawn
from the present European conflict is
found In the fact that the govern
ments involved Vie with each other in
refusing to admit they began 1t. We
have taken long step in advance
when no civilized nation either will
admit desire for war or confess an
intention to inaugurate 1t.
Referring to the peace policy of the
United States towards Mexico and the
acceptance of tho mediation offered
by Argentina, Brazil and Chile, Sec
retary Bryan said:
President Wilson not only secured
a peaceful solution of u situation that
threatened war, but he gave a strong
Impetus to the cause Of conciliation.
1t will be easier than before to pre-
serve peace In the Western hemis-
phere and more difficult to excite
war"
In conclusion the secretary said
"Iian has spent considera bic part
" his time In the work of destruction
in the day that Is dawning he can
devote all his efforts to production.
There Is as much inspiration In q no
bic life as in q heroic DEATH"
Oscar Straus expressed hope that
mediation eventually would settle the
European struggle.
"A month ago." he said Secretary
Bryan, under direction OF the presi-
dent, encouraged by statement by
an ambassador Of one Of the powers,
communicated informally with the
other powers as to whether they were
ready to accept the presidents tender
OF good offices. While the time is not
yet ripe for the definite discussion of
the subject we may be justified in
hoping that these communications al
ready had the good result Of lifting
the latch OH the door of mediation,
so that, without the initiative of either
side, at the first opportunity that
door readily may bc thrown OPEN"
Cardinal Farley. ut st. Patrick's ca
thedral. said that If Europe had heed
cd the pope, the war would never
have started At the Cathedral Of st.
John the Divine. Bishop David ii.
Greer asserted that although all
methods heretofore tried have failed
to insure universal peace, the prin-
ciples laid down by Christ yet have to
be applied to diplomacy and politics
and that until such principles are tried
the world never will he sure of peace