Confederacies by F. M. W.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 20, 1911

Confederacies

By F. M. W.

THE question of international arbitration has received new impetus during the last few days, by the exchange of kindly sentiments over this matter by President Taft and statesmen of England. Other statesmen, however, consider the idea largely visionary. The German chancellor, in a speech delivered in the Reichstag on March 30, declared:—

General disarmament is an insoluble problem as long as men are men. It will remain true that the weak will be the prey of the strong. If any nation feels that it is unable longer to spend certain sums for advance purposes, it will inevitably drop to the second rank. There will always be the stronger one ready to take its place. We Germans in our exposed situation can not shut our eyes to this dire reality. . . . Great Britain wishes the limitation of armaments, but simultaneously wants a superior or equal fleet. Any conference on this subject is bound to be fruitless. No standard for a limitation can be found, and any conceivable proposal would be shattered on the question of control.

We quote the above from the Washington Post of March 31. In its issue of April 1 the same paper says, in speaking of the chancellor's speech:—

At any rate, Germany's declaration is notice to the great powers to arm themselves and be on guard. The United States can not fail to take notice. Men may talk of arbitration and disarmament; but the safety and peace of this country, as of all others, lie in arms and the ability to make a fight when national interests are imperiled.

The student of the prophetic Word knows that the dream of international arbitration will never be practically realized. The air begins to pulsate with the cry of unity and federation in the religious world, the commercial world, and among the nations of men. To a large extent the cry is the demand of selfishness. The federating churchman is anxious for a church unity, provided it can be formed on what he deems the essentials of Christian faith and practise; the commercialist desires federation and combination so long as his selfish interests can be served; and the demand for international arbitration and for the limitation of armaments among the nations is with special reference to the limitation of the other power.

The last days will be marked by the formation of many confederacies in every phase of human existence. These confederacies will stand just so long as

they minister to the selfish ends of the stronger party. They will be broken just so surely as personal gain can be secured through their violation. Let us not be deceived with this idle talk of the world's peace. We would indeed that it might come, we wish devoutly that war would be forever banished; but in the very nature of the human heart and of human government, this can never be.

The prophet tells us that the nations of earth will continue to arm for conflict. On every side we see preparations for the marshaling of Armageddon. Peace will come to this earth only as it is ushered in by the Prince of Peace, whose government will be set up after every earthly government has been swept away.

F. M. W.