PEACE v. WAR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6385, 31 July 1882, Page 3

PEACE v. WAR.

TO THE EDITOR,

Sill, —How am I to know that my opponent, who signs himself "Peace," is not a modest Russian, or a clever Frenchman ? or he may be an Englishman who has reasons of his own for putting down guns and weapons of war and all police forces in the Colony. He is not the only man that would extinguish the police force of citica and nations, and would destroy bolts, bars, locks, and bank safes. He attaoke me personally, and my answer ho will find in my former letter. It is because I am a preacher of peace that I recommend worldly nations to have weapons so placed on their coasts that war will never come. " Nonpreparation is an invitation." If " Peace " thinks that this land when unprotected is best protected, let him leave his purse open to the public, his bank open to any man's hands, his mills and waiehouses open all hours of the night; and when a few roughs make off with his goods or threaten, let them refer the matter to the " Peace Society " at Home. I venture to say that Mr "Peace" is probably a very active and resolute man in preparing against all personal calamities and dangers. If "Peace" had been able to say that my argument was that a city of true Christians and a whole nation of true believers required great guns, he would have had a good argument against me as a Christian pastor; and perhaps " Peace " thinks that the world is now a good Christian world, and that bad kings, and bad governments, and bad men of all kinds have been changed by this wonderful "Peace Society " ; and he asks me if I know that this wonderful Peace Society exists. His question is a very fair one, and perhaps I remember more of the Society's movements than he does. I remember the flourish of trumpets it sounded years ago. I remember that Mr Cobden and Mr Bright contended that it would arrest all armies and all weapons. But unfortunately the mild, gentle little in-

fant shortly after its birth showed very warlike features. Both Mr Oobdon and Mr Bright camo into power at different times afterwards, and they helped to put upon our estimates even heavier orders for war weapons, guns, and ships than had boon mooted before ; and Mr Bright, tho great Apostle of Peaco, has supported tho principle, over since he was influential, that our great araonals should go on as usual.

And how havo arsenals grown since tho Peace Soeioty began ? The extraordinary Volunteer movement at J Imne—arming thousands of young merchants and mechanics—has bogun under tlio roign of this wonderful Soeioty. lno world has bristled with powerful war-weapons, enormous guns, mighty armour-plated ships, and extraordinary Volunteer preparations ever since tho l'eaco Society commenced. It would bo vory unkind to say that the reign of the Peace Society has been tho_ parent of this frightful family, but tlio coincidence is romarkablo, and suggests tho hopo that the Peace Society cannot bo alive, or such things could never by any possibility havo arisen. How came tho poor .1 ows to suffer such cruelties lately ? Where was the Peace Society f It is time they interfered; but, like many good old women, I fear they wero only crying and wringing their hands when tho murders were going on, and their " peace " endeavours will only be quite effectual when the Jews have been either driven away Of murdered. If we had a large, stout, wealthy member of tho " Frionds " to loud out to a dangerous-look-ing man-of-war on tho coasts hore, I am not quite sure that he would be found to bo bulletproof ; but if ho produced gold enough, thero is little doubt he could negotiate if thoy listened to his oration on peace. But will Duncdin bo willing to repay the Friend ? because even the Peace Society and our wealthy "Friend " would demand repayment—that is certain? Even barbarous Russia would probably not burn Dunedin if her banks and warehouses furnished abundance of capital ; but Russia will never allow England's Colonies-to remain wealthy when she neods money and England has got it, whether here or elsewhere. Russia will call at these ports unquestionably, and she will intimate that she only wants plenty of money, and that she ie a member of the Peace Society also, if she only gets all she asks. " Peace " says that tho Berlin and other two Conferences once averted war. Let "Peace" read history further back and ho will find that conferences ever since tho world began have scores, of times averted war, but scores of times they havo not averted war, and extraordinary conferences have lately been held, and yet war is a " crisis," says the great Bismarck, that wo must now expect. Every thinking man in Europe now anticipates war. The Peace Society has no doubt been doing all it possibly can, and yet every statosman ia preSaring for war. That is a fact; no one will ony it; and is Dunediu to be ruined by indolence ?

Wellington will not be easily and quickly attacked, neither will Auckland, but they aro neither of them so rich; therefore Dunedin tempts an enemy more than either Wellington or Auckland.—l am, &c, GoitDON FOKLONO. July 29th,

Tho ravages of tho phylloxera in France have caused an enormous rise in the prices asked for tho production of first-class vineyards which have escaped the scourge. Messrs Rothschild have just sold last year's yield of the Chateau Lafitte estate for no lesa than £320 for every hogshead containing 45 gallons, the .total sum being £35,000. This comes to a little over £7 per gallon, so that, allowing for waste, the wine will sell for no less than about £12 per dozen.

Each of the crewof the large deep sea fishing boats belonging'to Dundee, 21 in number, were presented with two gallons of oil in a canvas bag, to be used when overtaken by stormy weather at sea, Two ladies are the donors of the oil. The presentation was made by Mr Yeaman, who superintended the recent oil experiments at Feterhead, The skippers promised to report results,