THE WORLD’S FAITH IN PEACE.
A SHORT time ago the czar of Russia sent an invitation to all the nations of the world to join him in a peace conference for the purpose of securing a universal disarmament and the doing away with war; among civilized nations; and poet and statesman and philosopher, altho with faltering accents, have been shouting his praises as the harbinger of international tranquillity. But the czar has just expressed his faith in the “peace congress” by ordering the construction of sixty-six torpedo-boat destroyers. Thus he goes right on using up the $70,000,000 that he appropriated for naval construction last March. France expresses her faith in the “peace congress” by ordering two of the largest battle-ships, of 14,500 tons each, and two cruisers, and eleven torpedo-boats, and two torpedo-boat destroyers. Germany has ordered an increase of 15,000 in her army, to express her faith in the congress of peace. And, as noted elsewhere in this paper, Lord Salisbury warns England that if she lets her defenses go down she will lose her national existence. It would indeed be consoling if we could reasonably look for a general peace. But be not deceived. The world is gathering her armies for the great and final battle of Armageddon.