The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1915-10-18

pies OF the world today. In
Europe where the war beast is
ravishing and destroying the institu-
tions created by mankind during the
centuries OF social and economic evo-
lutioa, the minds or mon are reverting
to the desire for the blessings of peace
A year OF "a world at war" has chal-
lenged the progress of civilization, and
wiped out tho noblest OF human
achievements.
Go and look out over tho once fair
fields Of Europe now all tramplod and
grave furrowed. and upon the black
ened ruins OF its magnificent cities;
then contrast the conditions which
nifty years OF internal peace have pro-
duced In the United states,--years
that have raised our country to the
premiership among the nations Of the
world--and the tragic futtlity OF war
Is forcafuiiy apparent y
When we stop and mentally con-
trast tho torn. bleeding. devastated
Europe Of today--a continent drunk
with the destructive madness of war
and the condition of the America Of
today, there comcs the positive con-
viction that we must avoid Europes
calamity This Is possible only through
the study and cultivation Of those
things which make for peace. The
United States is still a partisan of war
like principles, md while we as yet are
at peace. the danger Of war hoyers
over us even as wo turn 70 celebrate
the victories of q half century of peace
among the States Of our Union.
Tho rabid venom Of war turks yet
I'm our veins waiting possibly only for
the exhibition Of blood to call 1t into
action and plunge the nation into the
red frenzy of the world-war.
Victories OF Peace.
what has gone on In Belgium
France and Poland during the past
year went on in the South fifty years
ago. In 1865 South Carolina suffered
Belgium's fate. and 1t is thus to cele-
brate Tho Victories of Peace" and
to advance those interests that con-
stitute Americas greateet preparded-
ness against war, that tho deliberations
of the Seventh Annual Convention Of
The Southern Commercial Congress-
to be held at Charleston, South Caro-
lima, December 1917. 1915. will center
around ,the general theme OF Peace"
Some OF the most notable men Of
the nation have already signlfed their
intention Of taking part in the Charles
ton program, which Will be devoted to
fifteen specific subjects. each embrace
ing vital problems which must BIO mot
and worked out as the South and the
Nation move on to our predestined
economic and social eminence. These
subjects include Peace, Education, Ma
tional Defense. Public Health, Public
Efficiency. Social Conditions, Drainage.
Rivers and Harbors. Foreign Trade,
Merchant Marine. Cotton. Rural
Credit. Marketing. Good Roads and
Agricultural Colonization.
souths Recovery.
This meeting, being the last. prom
ises 70 be the largest and most i'm
portant Of tho series Of five great con-
ventions that has been carried out by
The Southern Commercial Congress in
the years 191l-1915. to portray the
sonth's recovery during the past fifty
years.
The meeting in 1911 at Atlanta.
Georgia, was devoted to review of
THE South's Physical Recovery" In
1912 the convention assembled at
Nashville. Tennessee. was planned TO
exhibit THE South's Agricultural and
Educational Recoyery''--this meeting
launched the national movement for
the establishment Of rural credit
system; at Mobile. Alabama, In 1913.
The 6outh's Commercial Recovery"
was the central theme around waicn
lhe relation Of the Panama Canal ~