, 1915-03-25
protest against the terrible conditions
now prevailing in Europe


now prevailing in Europe
aPeao-Peace For Humanity"
II Is Idle to presume hat anythinn
mat we can do here today VIII have
any material influence In the imneN
ate settlement OF the greatest war III
history, involving more than half the
people Of the civilized world. but we
ear raise our voices In earnest protest
against conditions in Europe too terri
BILE to contemplate in loss of life. In the
destruction of property. in the suffer
ing of homeless women and children
and In the effect upon the world a
large. Commercial activity is checked
Industries are paralyzed, civilization Is
being forced backward, human i'm
pulses are being supplanted by the bru
tai practices of war. The cries OF the
innocent have sounded a call for relief,
and with dynamic force that call Is
generating a sentiment through the
length and breadth of tbs country for
peace. Every one seems sobered and
serious and determined. That one
word has taken on a new significance,
a new neutrality-suspicious. for hu-
manity, peace to pursue the upward
and onward course of civilization. peace
and rest and tranquility for the mil
Hons who suffer. suffering in spirit as
those unfortunate soldiers are suffering
in body, royalty and subject together
in the present awful European con
fict. They desire n cessation forever
Of the super-cruel methods of warfare
as a means of settlement Of interna
tional contention.
Each closing day hope looks forward
to the morning. longing that word shall
come that our brothers In Europe shall
have laid aside their arms. That glo
rious day must come, and when 1t does
will 1t not be possible to respond to the
worlds wall that the sword of anger
and of hate be sheathed forever Then
shall come the time for International
convention and treaty. Great states
men viii be engaged In negotiating the
tremendous document Speaking out
of tnexperience and from afar among
myriad minds, we ourselves hope that
In this treaty there shall be established
such a basis OF defense on land as Is
alone necessary to protect local peace
and that such armed ships as are nee.
essary to police the sea shall alone be
permitted, each nation contributing Its
quota to this international naval police,
which shall be controlled In its move
ments by international admiralty,
whose whole duty shall be to preserve
peace instead of prepare for war.
Site Of Peace Conferences.
The Exposition in San Francisco viii
have reached its highest purpose If II
can in any way assist In the settle
ment of the terrific conflict which is
now being waged with such titanic
ferceness. hellish weapons and awful
consequences. The Exposition being
set apar on extraterritorial grounds
dedicated to the use of all nations on
terms of equality, could fttingly, with:
out prejudice or embarrassment, be
used for a peace conference designed
to settle the differences of the warning
nations and bring about the signing OF
a treaty of peace for which the world
IL praying.
New Cycle of B~rothsrly Low.
One effect Of the war now in prog
ress will be to emphasize the impor
lance of and Intensity the interest in
the great international peace congress
projected by the management of the
Exposition. Let us hope that this wal
may be recorded history before this
congress The horrors OF
present day warfare will then be fully
appreciated, and those most directly
affected may be available with theii
experience and advice to assist In pre-
pairing n code Of international law an6
police powers and provide such othel
recommendations as may be best At
ted to insure lasting peace.
And when we look into the future
may we find the new-cycle of brotheriy
love s~uperseding the discord of today
May the settlement of international
strife by war and blood and suffering
and devastation be supplanted by con
ference and negotiation and arbitra
ton: then viii follow rest and peac,
and contentment for the everlasting
enjoyment of mankind. As, John G
Whittier beautifully expressed 1t II
his Centennial hymn In 1875:
Oh. make thou US through centuries lon,
In peace secure. in Justice strong;
Around our gift of freedom draw
The safeguards of thy righteous law,
And, cast in some diviner mold.
Let the new cycle shame the old