THERE is constantly arising first in one part of the country and then in another the talk of the possibilities and probabilities of war. Prime Minister Sir Wilfred Laurier delivered a speech in the Canadian Parliament, on January 28, which was suppressed, and every effort made to keep it from getting to the public at all. Copies of the speech have recently been secured by some of the newspaper men of Boston, and its publication starts afresh the discussions of trouble with Japan. The particular paragraph from the speech that is exciting the comment is the following:
“If, unfortunately, the interests of Great Britain were to be jeopardized in the North Pacific Ocean, we might see war break out between Great Britain and Japan on the one side and the United States on the other. It is possible that under our treaty we may see the flag of Japan weighing anchor in the harbor of Vancouver for the protection of these British interests, to which Canada attaches such vital importance.”
Japan seems to be doing everything in her power to show this country that she is friendly to us. And on the other hand the government here is showing Japan that there is no feeling of hostility toward her among those who are in the positions of authority. But every little incident is caught up by the press and carried from one end of the country to the other, and there is no lack of those who can see great dangers of wars in these reports. And so far as the discussions go, it matters not whether the reports have a true foundation or not.
Things of this kind would indicate that there is not so much hostility to war after all as some people would have us think. There are those who look at wars from a purely business standpoint. They think that they are secure from any personal danger should war break out, and the thousands of people that would be killed and the families that would have to mourn the loss of sons and fathers do not enter into their calculation. They can see the vast amount of business that the war would throw their way, and so they are ready to have it come so that they may make money, even tho the money thus made has to be drenched with human blood.
There is a plain scripture that reads:
“But know this, that in the last days grievous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good, traitors, headstrong, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.” 2 Tim. 3: 1-5.
If you will study the foregoing Bible text you will readily see that many of the things that are to characterize the people in the last days are the very foundation material for wars. Love of self and love of money are the first items mentioned. These things are corner-stones in the war-god temple. Then, among other things, the people are to be “railers,” “implacable,” “without self-control,” “fierce,” and “traitors.” These are also materials that enter largely into the structure that makes war seem to be a necessity. And it is because these sentiments and conditions are so plainly to be seen in the world that so few of the leading statesmen are willing to make the start in the much-talked-of disarmament. It is because the war material and the war sentiment is so manifest that the governments of all the leading nations are urging that more and more great battle-ships, and cruisers, and torpedo boats, and the like, be built with the greatest possible speed.
God’s word in numerous passages has told that war and not peace would mark the last days of earth’s history. The careful observer of passing events and sentiments will not fail to see that the good old Book has given us the facts in the case.