The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-06-19

doubts that q years time would be
sufflcient to reach an amiceble eolu-
ton OF almost every difficuIty7 Does
any one suppose that the present
war would have been begun IL q
years time had been taken 70 In
vestigate the dispute between Austria
and Serbian
ut will be remembered that Serbia
had only twenty-four hours In which
to reply and 1t will also be remembered
that during this brief time the rulers
of the old world endeavored TO md q
means of preventing war. II they had
only had some machinery which they
could have employed to avert war.
how gladly would they have availed
themselves of 1t.
The machinery provided by treaty
can be escorted to with honor--yes,
with honor--no matter how high q
sense of honor the nation has. The
trouble has been that while the ma
tions were abundantly provided with
machinery for conducting war, they
possessed no machinery for the promo
ton of peace. A years time allows
passion to subside and reason TO re-
sumo its sway: il allows man to act
when he is angry. When a man Is
angry he swaggers around and talks
about what he can 90, and he often
Hlb HtECtiG WHEN Ac Al
calm he considers what he ought to do.
When he is angry he heats the rum
bling of earthquakes ana the sweep OF
the hurricane; when he is calm he
listens to the still small voice of con-.
science.
War Reduced to Mere Possibility.
Third. While the period of investi-
cation provided for in our treaties will
go far toward preventing war, still.
even a years elaboration does not
give complete protection. In order to
secure the investigation of all ques-
lions without exception 1T was neces-
sary to reserve the contracting par
ties liberty of action at the conclusion
of the investigation. War 10 thus re-
duced from a probability to mere
and this is an immeasura-
BILE advance; but the assurance of per-
manent peace cannot be given until
tho desire for war is eradicated from
the human heart Compulsory periods
of Investigation supply the machinery
by which nations can maintain peace
with honor. If they so desire. But the
final work of the advocates of peace Is
educational--it is the cultivation OF
the spirit of brotherhood condemned into
the commandment Thou shalt love thy
neighbor as myself
rs 1t impossible to imagine a CIV
ilization in which greatness will be
measured by service and in which the
rivalry will be a rivalry in doing good?
No one doubts that thelol OF each mem
Der of society would be infinitely bet
ter undr such conditions: why not
strive TO bring about such conditions?
Is is visionary to hope and labor for
this end? Where there is no vision the
people perish II is death grappie
in the darkness twixt old system and
the world. The old system has broken
down: IL can let loose the furies, but
1t cannot bind them; 1t Is impotent to
save. The question is not whether the
Word will triumps-that Is certain
but when? And after what suffering7
Thomas Carlyle, mis- voice rising
clear and strong above the babble OF
mammon, asked, in the closing chapters
of his French revolution:
Hast thou considered how thought
Is stronger than artillery parks, and
(were 1t fifty years after the death
and martyrdom, or were IL two thous-
and years., writes and unwrites acts of
parliament. removes mountains mod
els the world life soft clay? Also how
the beginning of all thought, worth the
name, Is love-.
THE truth which ne uttered is still
truth, and. no matter who uttered II,
the thought is the thought of him who
spake as never man spake; who was
described In prophecy as the prince of
peace; whose coming was greeted with
the song of peace on earth; good will
to men," and whose teachings, when
applied. will usher in the enduring
peace of an universal brotherhood.