p. 16 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 40, No. 21. (5/27/1913)

No Prospect of Universal Peace

By Editor

Clinedinst Photo, Washington, D. C. Washington (District of Columbia) “Little Niagara,” or the Great Falls of the Potomac, within a few miles of where our General Conference is now in session

On page 10 of this issue is an illustration of the influential concourse of men that met in New York City on May 5 to arrange a program for the one hundredth anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Ghent. This was the treaty that ended the war of 1812 between this country and England. The enthusiastic supporters of this program are planning to celebrate “the centenary of peace among English-speaking nations.” These English-speaking nations, during that hundred years, have not gone to war with each other; but we had our civil war in this nation, which was one of the bloodiest in all history; England had her war with the Boers, which was another very bloody conflict; to say nothing of the lesser conflicts in which these nations have been engaged, unless we might mention, in passing, the slaughter of some 23,000 men in a single battle, by Lord Kitchener, with his machine guns, in one of his Egyptian campaigns. We are in favor of peace, and are seeking to do all within our power to bring about the reign of the Prince of Peace; but we wish to exert our influence to the utmost to show to the people of this world that we are in no time of peace, neither is there any prospect of universal peace before this world. The prospects are all to the contrary, and the word of God is in harmony with the prospect.

Court Delays and Mob Law

Judge Landis, of the United States Circuit Court in Chicago, has granted a continuance of a month in a case that has been before the courts for the last twenty-three years. It is such procrastinations and delays as this in deciding cases that is the cause for so much of the discontent and agitation that we see in the country. Both speakers and writers take occasion to use such incidents as a text for teaching the populace that there is no chance for them to get justice before the law, and so the tendency is growing stronger and stronger toward mob law and violence. This is seen in the many exhibitions of the work of the mob that are appearing in all parts of the world. In many instances the mob gather without doing very much violence, but the agitation is rapidly driving them to the point where they will be much more desperate and destructive in their actions.

Mexico’s Revolution and Public Health

The revolution and rioting in Mexico still keep up, with much loss of life and property. There are those who claim that if it were not for the rivalry of the big money interests that are seeking a monopoly of the commodities of Mexico, the war would have closed long ago. Indeed, they think it never would have started.

Leading physicians delegated by the American Medical Association, recently met in Washington, D. C., to urge upon President Wilson the importance of creating a Federal Department of Public Health. The need of such a department in our government, to cope with the frauds and adulterations in foodstuffs, must be quite apparent to all.

The Coming War of Armageddon

Selfish, grasping, grinding, greedy men have piled together fortunes of unheard-of size, and these fortunes are invested in great transportation, manufacturing, and commercial enterprises,—and they must have avenues of commerce through which to carry on their game. This condition has ever been one of the chief excuses for war; and never were the conditions so strong in that direction, and so absolutely world-wide, as they are to-day. God's word foretells the last great war of Armageddon, and makes plain the fact that that war lies just ahead. The great nations are even now preparing for that awful struggle, and not for universal peace.

The individual who is in touch with the divine Book knows this perfectly well. But unfortunately for some who are foremost in giving out their unfounded dreams of universal peace, they do not believe in the Bible; and many others, while claiming to believe it, do not study it closely; and still others hold views of the higher critics which ruthlessly tear the warnings and messages right out of the sacred Word. Unless all such can be led to make a change, there is no hope of their escaping from their delusions. But any soul who will hear the divine Word, need not be deceived.

All Wars at an End

ANDREW CARNEGIE expressed the opinion at the recent meeting of peace delegates in New York City that the Balkan-Turko war closes the last chapter of the history of bloody wars between civilized nations. He further stated that the nations have come to look upon war with disgust, and that all international differences will hereafter be settled by arbitration. That is a pleasant dream; but where is the evidence of its realization? At this very moment, all the papers are discussing the probability of a war between this nation and Japan; and should this present flurry blow over, as it most likely will, the conditions that tend toward war are by no means removed. The fact that a few wealthy men give out of the hundreds of millions that they have made in building steel armor-plate for warships, a few millions to promote peace, should not bring them so suddenly to the notion that wars are at an end.

English Suffragettes and Violence

The English suffragettes are still using the bomb, and attempting to use the fagot. Some of their work appears to be of the most dastardly character. Recently an attempt was made to blow up St. Paul's Cathedral, and also a large wholesale drug establishment that was near it. A just cause does not need any such violent procedure, and the right can not be permanently established in any such way. The authorities in England have been using very drastic measures for putting an end to this desperate work that the women are doing, but these measures seem to avail nothing. The suffragettes appear to be going on just as strongly as before.

France Faces a Growing Treasury Deficit

The deficit in the French treasury is still climbing upward. $160,000,000 will be required above the receipts of the last fiscal year. A large part of this deficit is occasioned by the war demands upon the great nation.

China Thanks America for Recognition

The United States was the first power to recognize the new Chinese Republic; and Yuan Shi Kai, president of China, has cabled his grateful thanks to Congress and the American people.

The Fall of Scutari

The fall of Scutari has left the territory in Europe west of Constantinople, for the first time in 558 years, without a Turkish army.