p. 15 | THE PEACE PROSPECT

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Nov 28, 1906

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 32, No. 46.

THE PEACE PROSPECT.

THE prospect for universal peace gets frequent backsets, and the friction between nations often arises where least expected—between governments whose relations have been, at least outwardly, very cordial. But where government administrations desire to be friendly, minor private or class interests may cause trouble that will jeopardize, or even effectively disrupt, such friendship.

The action of the San Francisco authorities in segregating Chinese and Japanese children from the established public schools has called forth such a strong protest from Japan as to cause uneasiness at Washington. This is manifest in the President's sending a cabinet officer to San Francisco to inquire into the matter. Japan's complaint is that her treaty with the United States is being violated, and this is the point that Secretary Metcalf was sent to investigate. The San Francisco Board of Education cite a state law that authorizes them to establish separate schools for Indians and Orientals. But if this law is violative of any federal treaty with a foreign power, it would be deemed unconstitutional. Hence a very delicate point is involved.

Hardly any one thought that war would really grow out of the incident, but it is just such comparatively little things that produce war. There has been war talk by prominent citizens on both sides, even by candidates for office, altho not by administration officials. The possibilities have been talked so loud that it has been heard in England, and is said to have caused quite a stir in business circles. War talk with Japan by any other nation causes uneasiness in Britain, for the reason that she has an offensive and defensive alliance with that empire, and any kind of serious conflict with the Japanese would also involve the British Empire. To say the least, the incident illustrates the precarious nature of all alliances between earthly governments.

The small pretexts from which wars are often engendered, together with the uncertainty of all human compacts when self-interest seems to demand their abrogation, are proof that the only lasting peace on earth is founded on individual peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. The reign of the Prince of Peace over a people unanimously at peace with God, is the only guaranty of universal peace. Then will be realized the promise, "The meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace." G.