WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS by Wm. Penniman

The Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · November 27, 1879

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 54, No. 22

WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS.

By Wm. Penniman

The following, from the St. Louis Globe Democrat of Oct. 28, 1879, shows that we cannot yet look for a long reign of peace on the earth; and the fact that the United States and France are the only great powers on the face of the earth that could with any consistency send delegates to the Peace Congress at Naples, is a remarkable sign of the times. It is evident that the winds and waves of political contention are only being restrained, that the work of the third angel may not be hindered in its progress.

Wm. Penniman.

Russia is hastening the manufacture of arms and military equipments with extreme energy. The owners of a private foundry have been ordered by government agents to employ all their facilities in the exclusive manufacture of steel cannon. The Czar and his counselors evidently scent war in the near future. Persia seems likely to be the first object of Russia’s hostile attentions, because she stands between the Czar and British India and shows a friendliness to the English government, while she has renounced Russia’s amicable overtures.

The situation is peculiar in view of what it might have been had the Indian government pursued a more conciliatory policy toward the semi-savage Afghans. The latter are as unyielding believers in the Koran as are the Persians, just as both Protestants and Catholics base their religion upon the Bible. But the Afghans and Persians are divided by a schism. Their feelings upon the religious difference is so fervently bitter that they have no political sympathy for each other, and anything like an offensive or defensive alliance between them is utterly impossible. Hence, in the event of a Russian invasion, Persia will find herself liable to the attacks of fierce foes from her Afghan frontier. The British would not dare to leave India unprotected, on account of the same warlike and now doubly-enraged people, while to march an army from this direction to the assistance of Persia would subject it to the certainty of having its communications continually interrupted by the wily Afghans. The same physical influences that defeated Napoleon’s campaign into Russia would materially aid in guarding that country against suffering from the possible alliance of Austria, Germany and England, while the Czar might be operating a formidable army with great effect against Persia, and ultimately against British India. France is disposed to hold herself aloof from these rapidly increasing complications. She and the United States are the only great powers on the face of the earth that could with any very good grace send delegates to the Peace Congress at Naples.