The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1914-12-26
CONTRAST OF PEACE AND WAR.
Century of AnicabIe Relations Be-
tween English-Speakinq Peoples.

| The American Peace Centenary
Committee, of which Hon. JOSEPH
| H. Choate is chairman, has ISSUED
the following address to the people
of the United States:
Zone hundred years ago on Dec
"a there was signed at Client, in
Flanders, the treaty of peace be
tween Great Britain and the United
States, which marked the close OF
what has happily proved to be the
last war between English-speaking
peoples of the earth Today the
city of Client is at the very center
of the terrible conflict that RACES in
Europe. The American Peace Cen
tenary Committee cannot permit this
anniversary to pass without invit-
ing the thoughtful attention of their
fellow citizens to the contrast pre-
sented by the century-long period of
peace which English-speaking peoples
have enjoyed among themselves on
the one hand, and the appalling de-
struction of life, property and great
monuments of civilization which the
European war involves on the other
1t had been our confident hope that
the example which the English-speak-
ing peoples have set in their rela-
tons with each other would be fol-
lowed by the other great nations Of
the earth in their several interna-
tiona1 relations. It had been our
earnest desire that the spirit of
peaceful and friendly cooperation
which each of these peoples mani
tests toward the people of the Unit
ed States would also mark their deal
lngs with one another Unfortunate
ly this was not to be, and we are
sorrowfully called upon to mark our
centenary celebration in the midst
of the most terrible and destructive
war that history records.
Even at such a time, we must
avow once more our emphatic faith
in the supremacy of justice over
force, of law over might. We re-
joice in the peaceful relations of
hundred years among all English
speaking peoples, and particularly
in the nndefended and unfortified
line, nearly four thousand miles in
length, which divides the territory
of the United States from that of
the Dominion of Canada. The mu-
tual trust. forbearance and helpful
ness which make that undefended
boundary a link and not a barrier
between tvs peoples, We offer as an
to our warning brothers
across the sea.
1t had been our purpose. when
our committee was organized in 1910,
o plan for a great celebration Of
he centenary anniversary by va
ious methods which have now. be-
'ause of the terrible war which IS
till CONFUSING Europe and disturb
ng the whole world, become i'm
practicable until the close of the
onflict.
But we appeal to the people in |
ii the states and to all civic bodies |
0 mark this notable anniversary by |
uitable exercises in the churches of |
II denominations on the 18th Of |
'ebruary, the date agreed upon for
hat purpose with our associate, the |
committee; by formal adj
resses at the capitals of the re-
oectlVe states on the 18th and 18th
February, the dates of the ratifi- |,
alton and proclamation of the
eaty; and also by appropriate ex-
'cises in all the schools on the 22nd
~ Of February, or on such later
ate or dates in the spring of 1915
may be locally deemed preferable.
BY which all the children of Amer
a should be instructed on the sig
flcance OF this great event, and
the happy prospect which is as
red to us, in spite of this horrible
ar, of another century of continued {
ace between all the English-speak- !
2 peOpies of the world y