A CENTURY OF PEACE.

Mataura Ensign, 26 December 1913, Page 5

A CENTURY OF PEACE.

BRITAIN AND AMERICA. 81 ELKCTEIC TELEGRAPH COPTEIGHT PEE UNITED PBESB ASSOCIATION. Received December 26, 9.50 a.m. OTTAWA, Dec. 25. Cardinal (ribbons, Mr Carnegie (the millionaire) and other prominent Americans sent a message to Hon. R. L. Borden (Prime Minister) asking for his support in the celebration of 100 years peace between America and Great Britain. Mr Borden replied that he was profoundly thankful for the century of peace. Such a triumph of goodwill outdid any victory possible in war. Each nation owed the other a solemn duty in preserving the traditions of friendship and peace during the centuries to come.

Writing on the various methods whereby it is proposed to commemorate the Hundred Years' Peace, the 'Observer' says: 1 'On the American side it is designed to throw over the rapids of the Niagara River a memorial free bridge as a daily link between the daily life of the Republic and thai of Canada; and as a symbol of the perpetual amity that ought ever to exist between them. Finally, we come back to the island again in connection with a scheme which ought to be carried through with a swing of enthusiasm whatever else happens. We mean, of course, the admirable suggestion to purchase and endow Sulgrave Manor, in Northamptonshire, the ancestral home of the Washington's. Everyone knows that over the main doorway of this quiet old country house there are still to be seen the armorial bearings from which the Stars and Stripes of the American flag are derived. Morally Sulgrave would then' become, as it were, a little bit of America in England, and would be a place of pilgrimage like Stratford-on-Avon for all pilgrims on this side; A continual interchange of professors ought to be arranged for between the universities of the United States, Canada, and England. A continuous series of lectures bearing upon the chief historical aspects and future ideals of the English-speak-ing world ought to be delivered by turns in the island, the Dominion, and the Republic, and we need not say that we should like Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa to be associated with the scheme. ' "Then there is the remarkable proposal for. a text-book of Anglo-Ameri-can history which might be widely read and even used in schools on both sides to the increase both of truer understanding and more generous thought. We have indicated above that we would l regard this if it could be accomplished as [the most searching achievement of all. Up to 20 years ago it would have been j simply unthinkable. The task is_ diffi- ! cult still; but the temper of the time i* ripe for it, and for a writer of sane genius on either side it is a,s fine a piece of work of its kind as is yet to be done in the world. And now we come to the last of the suggestions. It is hoped that on the Christmas Eve of 1914 completing the hundred years of peace there will be religious servioes in every place of worship throughout the kindred nations, and, above all, that there shall be a simutlaneous five minutes' silence throughout the English-speaking world. If the minds of men were well and truly prepared—if they knew rightly upon what purpose of everlasting peace for Britain and America, upon what example for the world they were asked to reflect—the hushed influence of that five minutes might be felt through all time."