'Appeal to All Friends of Peace"

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\outl0\strokewidth0 \strokec2 THE WOMAN'S TRIBUNE WASHINGTON. JUNE 25. 1904\
\
Appeal to All Friends of Peace\
\
More [ardently] than ever do people wish\
for an era of peace, the dawn of which even\
now appears on the horizon [?] the passions\
which still cause human mood to flow\
in distant countries. They comprehend instinctively\
that the colossal wars trembling\
on its base and that a united push is\
able to overthrow it notwithstanding the efforts\
to the contrary of those who believe\
might eternally make right upon this\
earth.\
\
The opening of the twentieth century\
found in the world a decisive struggle between\
the brutal maxims of the old civilization\
and those the application of which\
would bring that security for the morrow\
so necessary for the prosperity of nations\
and individuals.\
War is becoming more and more discredited\
by its excesses, and by the justice to\
which it gives birth. It is, besides, incapable\
of solving definitely any international\
question, its futility, from which results\
its absurdity, is demonstrated by the profound\
indifference of the population.\
\
Courage, then, friends of Peace, sustain\
the movement which is being accentuated\
more and more, and not permit it to lag for\
a moment when its triumph may be near.\
Hesitation may lose the world, and indifference\
compromise causes on their nearest\
approach to success.\
\
Will it not be worth all the efforts and all\
the sacrifices to achieve Peace for humanity?\
Whoever aids this but does what\
ought to be done; but discharges an obligation\
resting upon him.\
\
If all cannot give the support of eloquent\
speech or per, they can at least contribute\
to the victory of right over force by\
financial aid according to their resources.\
\
The Twelfth Universal Congress of\
Peace opened at Rouen. September, 22,\
1903, arranged the following plan for a general\
subscription for Peace Propaganda.\
\
"The congress, considering that the best\
means of spreading Peace ideas and of\
gaining adherents, consists in an incessant\
propaganda under all forms; books, pamphlets,\
journals, reviews, pictures, posters,\
conferences, stereopticon views, etc., and\
Considering that without money this propaganda\
will be impossible, or at least insignificant,\
decides to found an international\
bank of funds devoted to this purpose.\
\
"This bank will be maintained by voluntary\
subscriptions of friends of peace, to\
whom each year a pressing appeal will be\
addressed.\
\
"The management of the funds of this\
bank will be confided to the International\
Bureau at Berne, which will organize it on\
a foundation similar to that of the Foundation\
of Bloch."\
\
The Committee of the Bureau, meeting\
in Berne last April, organized this Bank of\
International Propaganda, chartered under\
the Swiss law.\
It is now for all sincere friends of Peace\
to co operate in this good work and to take\
part in this large public subscription, opened\
at the same time in all the countries of\
the world, under the guarantee of persons\
worthy of all confidence. These measures\
have been taken in order that the sums,\
which will be placed at the disposition of\
the peace movement may be best used according\
to the intention of their donors.\
\
We therefore, in consequence, recommend\
this to all of our friends leaving to\
local committees the care of carrying it out\
in the best way, in view of the practical\
and which we are all following in the name\
and [interests?] of justice and humanity.\
\
Berne, May 5, 1904. In the name of the\
International Peace Bureau\
\
(Signed) Fr. Befer President;\
Elie Ducommun Secretary\
[Translated from the French by [underlined later] Belva A\
Lockwood [/underlined] ]\
}