The Powers and Armageddon
By Editor
THE action of the Russian foreign minister in visiting several of the continental capitals is interpreted by the English to possibly mean that something is being talked up against them in the Transvaal difficulties. It is quite clear that Germany is watching a chance to strike England a blow during her South African broil, and now if Russia is watching for the same thing, it will possibly mean more trouble for England than she was anticipating. Or it may be that the Lord is stirring up these two powers to resist England in order that the peace of the world may be maintained a little longer, so that the message of the Gospel can have further opportunity to work unhindered by the distracting influences of war. But be that as it may, we can clearly see that the world's great powers are so tangled in their jealousies that one of them can not make an important move without all the rest desiring to take a hand. The general break must soon come, and when it does, it will lead right up to the great battle of Armageddon. It is a momentous thought that the very soldiers who will fight that great battle, are even now in process of training. And how sad it is that they can not be led to see the evil of it, and be kept out of it! For all who go into that fight will be submerged in the destruction of the great day of God. Going to war in these days has far greater perils in it than the bullets of the enemy. It may mean such a blinding of the eyes by Satan that there will be no possibility of salvation from eternal ruin. NO SOONER is it ascertained that Great Britain is likely to have a war on her hands in the Transvaal than the bankers of Europe begin to tie up the currency in order to make the money market high. England finds that she has about as great difficulties to contend with in the matter of finances as in the hostile attitude of the Germans, the Russians, or anything else. How intimately are all these questions interlocked! We not only see that the prophecy in regard to the great war spirit that should characterize the last days is being fulfilled most marvelously, but we also see that another prophecy, which speaks of the heaping together of treasure in the last days, is being most literally fulfilled. For if the treasure of this earth was not heaped together, how could a few men control the pile and make the money market flush or stringent just as they please? There can be no question as to where we are in the history of the world. There is too much plain prophecy being fulfilled for us to go amiss in saying that the coming of the Lord is right at hand. Get ready, O, get ready, for that great and glorious day! A REPORTER in the New York World says, "The magnificent ovation to Dewey reflects the profound pride of the nation in the triumph of the flag through the prowess of our navy," and every one seems to be applauding the sentiment. Then can it be truly said that we have been ushered into an era of peace while one of the foremost nations of the world is still "proud" of the prowess of battle? In the very nature of things, so long as there are nations on this earth they will be continually resorting to arms to sustain their governments. There can be no hope for peace in this world till the coming of the Prince of Peace, and every heart should rejoice at the fact that the glad day of the coming of the Just One is not far off. UPON the recommendation of Admiral Dewey nine more war ships have been ordered to the Philippines. Such a strong fleet in the Philippine waters would indicate that the government either expects to make short work of the Filipinos or else there is the lingering thought that there may be some foreign interference. THE girls who are out on a strike from the silk-ribbon weaving establishment of John Hand & Sons, Paterson, N. J., undertook to prevent other girls, whom the firm had employed, from working, and the police arrested a large number of the strikers for disorderly conduct. The disorderly conduct consisted in hooting and jeering at the girls that came in to take their places, and they were also serenaded with tin horns while going to and from their work. It is presumable that girls have as good right to strike as men or boys, but it shows that the tension between capital and labor is getting very acute when such active conditions exist. ACTING-SECRETARY ALLEN has prepared the naval estimates for the next year, ready to submit to Congress at its next session. His estimates amount to $73,045,183. This estimate for the next year is $24,537,187 more than the naval appropriations for the present year. Every single thing is pointing in the direction of the preparation for war, and war, and war. There is absolutely nothing pointing in the direction of peace for this world. But all who will accept the Prince of Peace may soon have the privilege of seeing Him in person; for His coming is right at the door. THE mayor of Wyoming, Illinois, knows how to distinguish between things secular and things religious, even when the things secular take place in edifices dedicated to things religious; for he has announced that hereafter all church entertainments will be required to pay the same license fee that is required of the managers of street shows and circuses. Such an announcement should start a train of thought in the minds of church people on the way the world looks upon church worldliness, and the cause of spiritual declension in churches which permit such things. THE Transvaal committee called a peace meeting in London a few days ago, and over 50,000 persons assembled. The sentiment in favor of the war being pushed in the Transvaal was so strong that the speakers were howled down and the meeting was wholly broken up. And yet people will tell us that we have entered a reign of peace. Why can not men see facts when they are so plain? The trouble is that some notion gets into the mind, and this notion is clung to when the contrary facts are simply overwhelming. IT is not alone in South Africa that England is having trouble. She is beginning to find that her victories under General Kitchener, in Egypt, were not so pronounced as she had at first thought. It is found to be necessary for the general to organize another body of men to march against the Khalifa. FORTY thousand gallons of wine were poured upon the flames that are raging in the forests of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Wine is not quite so good as water in extinguishing flames. But if it could all be used in that way, and the water drunk instead of the wine, what untold misery would be saved! A NEW YORK paper recently said that a coldness had sprung up between President McKinley and Archbishop Ireland. But this can not be true, for at a recent banquet in Chicago the archbishop was with the President at his right as the guest of honor. A ROYAL proclamation ordering Parliament to convene on October 17 has been issued by the queen of England, and the reserve troops of the empire have been ordered out. This is occasioned by the acute prospects for war in the Transvaal. MEXICO has commenced an active campaign against the Maya Indians. Five thousand Mexican troops are making forced marches to reach the Indians' camp. The Indians are entrenched, and a strong resistance is expected. THE sentiment in favor of the Boers is so strong in Germany that anti-English meetings are being held in various places. At a meeting in Berlin it was resolved to send a telegram of sympathy to President Krueger. SERIOUS rioting still continues in the Canton district, in China. The rioters are mostly robber rebels, who are fighting the government and at the same time looting the people. A GENERAL strike of workingmen is on in Havana, Cuba.