The International Arbitration Conference in Session
The International Arbitration Conference in session at Mohonk Lake, N. Y., has “adopted a platform of principles which appeals to all persons to co-operate in diffusing such a righteous sentiment and feeling toward all classes and races that international arbitration will be resorted to as the best means for securing international justice whenever diplomacy falls.” The aim which the members of the conference have in view are worthy aims, and their work may result for a time in a slight diminution of the horrible work of war; but wars will not cease. Nations are as avaricious as men, for they are composed of men—ambitious men. Then, too, the Word of God gives us no warrant for believing that peace will come to this earth before the coming of the Son of Man. Three nations, the United States, England, and France, are interesting themselves in the case of two men who have been kidnapped by a company of Morocco bandits. One of the captured men was an American citizen, and the other a citizen of Great Britain, and the United States has asked France to use its good offices in securing the release of the captives, as France is recognized as having a strong influence in the affairs of Morocco. A squadron of American and British war-vessels is now lying in the Bay of Tangier; but it is realized that they can do little toward effecting the release of the captives, who are hidden and closely guarded by the bandits. A terrible explosion occurred in the great whisky warehouse at Peoria, Ill., on June 4, which wrecked the building, and set on fire other structures near by, entailing a loss of $1,000,000. The stored whisky burned furiously, and the contents of the exploding barrels ran in great streams to the river. Ten men were caught in the debris of the building, and burned to death. A stockyard full of cattle was invaded by the burning whisky, and hundreds of them were burned to death. So goes death and ruin with the whisky fiend in whatever form it comes forth to operate. Antagonism toward the Catholic Church manifests itself at very frequent intervals in different parts of France. Some Catholic children at Toulon had been singing anti-clerical songs, and when it came time for these to be received into the communion of the church against whose work they had been singing, the priests refused to confirm them. Thereupon a mob of about a thousand persons attacked the church of St. Jean, wrecked the pulpit, and overturned the statues. The mob was finally dispersed by the police. Shells used by the Japanese are said to be charged with a new and powerful explosive compound which does terrible execution in the ranks of the enemy. The havoc caused on the two Russian war-ships sunk at Chemulpo is said to have been due to these deadly shells. The explosive is so powerful that it breaks the shell into thousands of fragments which sow death in every direction. It was doubtless these shells that put the Russian batteries out of action on Nan Shan hill, and made it possible for the Japanese to carry the Russian fortifications. There is some anxiety in British Government circles over the expedition which has been pressing toward the capital of Tibet. Colonel Younghusband’s little army of 1,500 men is surrounded by about 20,000 of the Tibetans. Re-enforcements are being hurried over difficult trails to his relief. King Edward’s activity in the realm of international politics is causing some anxiety in the British Foreign Office. The king will soon visit Emperor William, and the officials fear that some entanglements may arise as a result of the meeting. A member of the cabinet will accompany the king. Negotiations are said to have been completed between the British Government and China for the sending of about a half million of Chinese coolies to the diamond and gold mines of South Africa. The conditions under which these men will work are said to be but little better than slavery. Hostilities are reported to have ceased in San Domingo, and some sort of a peace is being patched up between the warring factions. Representatives of the two parties are now on board an American war-ship drawing up their agreement. The Netherlands troops have captured a garrison of Achinese at Tampering, Sumatra. The Dutch losses were 33 killed and wounded, and of the Achinese 76. A tornado swept over a large area of Oklahoma on June 4, demolishing or damaging hundreds of houses, and causing some loss of life. In a collision on the Missouri Pacific, near Martin City, Kansas, on June 3, nine persons are reported killed and a larger number injured.