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President Charles W. Eliot delivered the second lecture of the series which is being given this year under the auspices of the Harvard International Polity Federation in Emerson D yesterday evening. His subject was "Some Roads Towards Peace," the title of his report to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, which recently sent him on a trip around the world to study the best means of the promotion of peace in the East. In introducing his subject, President Eliot dwelt upon the discouraging aspects of the last few years for the advocate of peace. He mentioned the many wars which have been taking place, and deduced from these the forces which still are active in causing wars, and those whose activity is dying out. Dynastic wars are no longer found, and religious wars are becoming fewer. Wars for new territory are still prevalent, the war between Italy and Tripoli being an example; and wars caused by the ruling of a people by aliens still continue. Another potent cause of war is the neglect of the people by despotic governments.
Three Roads Towards Peace.
President Eliot mentioned three general roads towards peace. The first of these is to substitute constitutional government for despotisms. Another is the organization of people for protection against catastrophies of all kinds. A third is universal education, which would tend to increase the average intelligence and well-being of the world, and thus to decrease the probability of war. These courses are objected to by most advocates of peace as being too slow. President Eliot, however, claims that peace can only be brought about by slow and progressive influences. He says that one of the best roads towards peace is "frank recognition of the fact that in the present condition of the world force is necessary to the preservation of order."
Suggestions for Expenditure.
In closing his speech President Eliot mentioned the suggestions he made to the Carnegie endowment as a basis for profitable expenditure. These are: first, to create and support agencies competent to prevent or reduce wrongs and miseries which cause war; secondly, to strengthen public opinion in favor of publicity in government affairs; thirdly, to probe all secrets in administration, industries and legislation; fourthly, to cultivate in all nations a public spirit, and to encourage the devotion of private money to public uses; fifthly, to create and foster agencies such as hospitals, training schools and technical schools in countries where they are lacking; sixthly, to promote recognition of the necessity of armed protective forces against possible invasion or internal strife; seventhly to strengthen public opinion in favor fo an international naval force; and eighthly to foster those religious instincts which strengthen family ties and tend to secure liberty and the highest public good. In this way, by slow and constant education of the people of the world, international peace may eventually be brought about.
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