Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-28

has burst forth we are not Interested
to search for or explore. But so great
Il food. spread far and wide to every
quarter OF the globe. has OF necessity
engulfed many fair province OF right
that lies very near to us. Our own
rights as nation. the liberties. the
privileges, and the property of our
people have been profoundly affected
We are not mere disconnected lockers
OH. The longer the war lasts. the moro
deeply do we become concerned that ii
should be brought to an end and tho
world he permitted to resume it's nor
NAL life and course again. And when
1t does come TO an end we shall be as
much concerned as the nations at war
TO see peace assume an aspect Of per-
manencc. give promis. Of days from
which the anxiety OF uncertainty shall
be lifted. bring some assurance that
peace and war shall always hereafter
be rcckoned part OF the common inter-
est OF mankind. We are participants.
whether we would or not. in the life
of the world. The interests of all ma
tons are our own also. We are part
ners with ;he rest. What affects man.
Kind is inevitably our AFFAIR as well as
the affair OF the nations of Europe and
Of Asia
One observation on the causes Of the
present war we are at liberty to make,
n nd to make It may throw some light
forward upon the future. M we'll as
backward upon the past. 1t is plain
that this war could have come only as
II did. suddenly and out of secret coun-
sells, without warning to the world
without discussion, without any Of the
deliberate movements OF counsel with
which IT would seem natural TO an
proach SO stupendous a contest II Ia
possible that If II had been foreseen
Just what would happen just what al
llances would be formed Just what
forces arrayed against one another
those who brought the great contest
on would have been glad TO substitute
conference for force. II we ourselves
had been afforded some opportunity
to apprisc the belllgerents Of the at
titude which il would be our duty to
take. OF the policies and practices
against which we would feel hound
TO use all our moral and economic
strength. ana in certain circumstances
cvon our physical strength also. our
own Contribution TO the counsel whicf,
might have averted the struggle would
have been considered worth weighing
and regarding.
NATIONS MUST RE- GOVERNED
BY HIGH CODE: OF HONOR
And the lesson which the shock Of
being taken by surprise in matter so
deeply vital TO all the nations of the
world has made poisnantly clear is
That the peace OF the world must
h"nceforth depend upon new and
more wholesome diplomacy. Onlv when
the great nations Of The world havo
reached some sort of agreement as TO
what they hold TO be Fundamental TO
;hcir common interest and as to soma
feasible method of acting In concer,
"hen any nation or group OF nations
seeks 10 disturb those fundamental
things. can we feel that civilization is
~ last in way ~ justify!nr its cx-
istcncc and claiming 20 be finally es-
tahi!shcf il s. clear that nations
must in tn" future De governed by the
same nigh code OF honor that We de-
mand OF individuals.
We must, indeed. in the very Same
breath with which we avow this con-
N4ct!on. admit that we have ourselves
upon occasion in the past been offenders
against the law of diplomacy which we
thus forecast, but our conviction is not
the less clear, but rather the more
clear. on that account. If this war has