p. 16 | Peace Congress by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Apr 17, 1907

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 33, No. 16.

Peace Congress

By Editor

Peace Congress.—Do not forget that the SIGNS OF THE TIMES will have a capable representative at the Peace Congress in New York, who will report that great meeting for this paper alone.

We make a break in our series of articles on China in our Missions Department to permit a few words on a matter of great importance. The $150,000 is a worthy enterprise, and if all would lift as they are able, it would be soon raised, nobody would be distressed, and the cause of God would be greatly blessed, and this blessing would flow back upon His people.

The Standard Bible Dictionary.—Funk and Wagnalls Company announces an early completion of the above work. Its price when complete will be $6.00. They make an advance offer to clergymen of $4.00. It is an absolutely new work, containing the very latest determinations of facts, making the book not a volume of speculations about the Bible, but a Bible dictionary. Address, Funk and Wagnalls Company, 44-60 East Twenty-third Street, New York, for particulars.

In a recent speech by Senator Beveridge, of Indiana, he declared, according to the New York American, that Indiana is eager for the time when the whole government of the country shall be nationally administered. He said, "We Americans live in one big house with many rooms, not in separate houses, fenced and guarded against one another." Among the things demanded was the election of Senators by the people, the nominating of all candidates for office by the people at the polls, the making of internal improvements by the nation, and referred to a great many other things which the government had already done, such as the prevention of the scattering of obscene literature, suppressing lotteries, prohibiting the selling of poisonous and adulterated foods, sanitation of packing houses, the inspection of meats, irrigating the arid West, ending of child labor, control of trusts, etc. And these are the arguments put forth for a stronger and greater centralization of power.

Extravagance the Order.—It takes a resolution like that of John Wesley (was it?), who would spend only so much a year whatever his income, to withstand the environing extravagance and its temptations. The federal government is no exception to the rule. The last session of Congress appropriated almost $920,000,000; and a member of the House appropriations committee contends that $75,000,000 should be added to this for river and harbor work and naval construction. As compared with ten years ago, just prior to the Spanish War and the era of imperialism, the figures stand as follows: For 1898, $528,735,000; for 1908, $919,948,000, almost twice as much within a decade. Of this increase, $55,000,000 must be charged to the army, and $66,000,000 to the navy. One party, counting on a continuance of prosperity, predicts that the present revenue system will yield a surplus of $20,000,000; while the other party contends that there will be a deficit of $100,000,000. The people may have to pay more heavily in additional taxation for our billion-dollar Congress if flush times should not persist. Then "distress" and "perplexity." Luke 21:25-27.