E183 .G7H4 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS D0DD2b4T33D y "^^ \^ ." o ^^v \/ :Mm.^ %,^ /Jfe--. \,.^-* -^ 95 '^e*. . \/' %^* ""''\ .^°^:^^'> y.'^^-\ /..-•^•.*°. ;* ^^ v^ -y^%^/ ^^ ^^ *s * AT "^ • .40c. . > .t^^ o. jPvs .0* 'bV . "^O^ 0^ *D, *'?.T*' .a' ^''*f!T*\G^ *P. ^-ft' • « SI • "WHAT 100 YEARS OF PEACE AMONG ENGLISH SPEAKING PEOPLE HAS MEANT TO THE WORLD." PRIZE ESS AY written under the Auspices of the LOUISIANA HISTORICAL SOCIETY by Miss ETHEL L. HEARNE, Vinson Hish School. Vinton, I. a. THE FLAG OF LOUISIAMW Inuseprover 100 years, hut not officially adopted umil July 1st, 1912. . -mee Act 39 of the General Assembly of Louisiana, of 1912. page 47\ ICouiataua l^ifitiirtral ^urictij ESSAY COMMITTEE W. O. HART, Chairman Rev. GK'i. Kknt B. p. Sullivan Jno. Dymond Mf'OS. H. M. Gill JUDGES OF ESSAYS Hon. JOS. A. BREAUX, Chairman Miss Makv L. Finney J. H. Fulton M. J. Sandeks (IrrPl AUG What 100 Years of Peace aiiioii^ English Speaking People lias meant to tlie World. Just one Imndred years ago, in the little town of (Jhent, Belgium, was signeil a treaty of peace between the United States and Great Britain. This treaty marked the end of the war of 1813 and the beginning of the era of peace whicli has extended throughout the century, its splendor never marred l)y any pretense of war between these two nations, the mightiest ot the world. During this century of peace and tranquility these two mighty streams of life have flowed on side by side, never overflowing their banks. l)ut both bound for a common goal — the vast sea of eternity. They have flowed on. yes blessed by a peace which was bought with many dollars and the blood of numy men. In our every day life v/e learn the true worth of something when we realize the faults, unworthiness and undesirability of its opposite. Thus we nuiy contrast war and peace, and by showing the disadvantages of the first mixkc clear tlie advantages of the second. ]\Iany definitions of war have been given, but Cicneral Sherman, although speaking in very strong tenns, tells the truth when he says "War is hell." Devils do not treat one another as we do in war. War ju'oduces one of the worst of emotions — hate; it clogs up the channels of connnerce ; it is the demon which snatches away the life blood of a nation. The makers of our great and grand American Republic dreaded war and avoided it as the greatest of human evils. They realized that wai' was not the best means to which they might resort, that war mul- lijilies injuries instead of lessening them. Would that some Eaphacl could picture the awfuhicss of war. A pen picture seems so deficient. However, let us glance at a country engaged in war. Her ground is covered with blood; tlie harmony of home destroyed; children arc fatherless; wives arc widows; business is at a standstill : commerce neglected, the merchant's ships lie idle in the harbors; literary pursuits are forgotten. The noise of battle exceeds all other sounds, the minds of men are bent on slaughter as the nu'ans of redressing their wrongs. Is this Christian-like? Are we yet in that barbarous stage characterized by the love of concpiest? War and the preparation for it are the greatest burdens of our nations. The war Department in 1913 spent $160,387,453 for the sup- port of tlic army. Tlie Civil AVar cost us millions of dollars and ri\ers of I)lood. Our war with Spain cost more than one billion of dollars and 20,0(10 lives. Great Britain and the Transvaal spent the same amount and !)1.000 lives before their differences Avere adjusted. To what l:)etter advantages this money could have been used. This monev wrung from the life blood of the countless numbers who suffered and died in war. Tt could have been used in innumerable ways to devel()]i manufactures, increase commerce, educate the children, for they are the people of the morrow; to found charitable instituti(ms for the poor and needy, or in any way to better hunuinity. And the lives which were forfeited, the lives which supplied the crimson blood that appeased the angry God of War. could they not have perhaps uplifted humanity? Perliaps to-day there lies beneath a soldier's grave one who could liave been another Titian, a Beethoven, an Edison or a Shakespeare. It is for the interest of humanity that the occasions of war and the tendency towards it should 1)0 lessened. The humanizing influences of commerce and agriculture should attract men's minds and tend t(^ turn them from Avar. Oh, that "the swords might l)e turned into pb)Ugb- shares, their spears into pruning hooks, the nations learn war no more." The disadvantages of war now should be clear; let us glance at the advantages of peace and what this century of peace has meant to America, Great Britain and lln' other leading countries. To America it Ims meant evervtliing. At tlie close of tlie War of 1812 we were indeed a small nation among the nations of the world. We had no inanufactures, no commerce, no regular system of free educa- tion, no great charital)le institutions, no railroads, no literature dis- tinctly our own. and. in fact, we were backward in all respects. Since then, wiiile enjoying ilie t)lessings of peace, we have grown to be one of tlie greatest and grandest nations on the globe. We have developed vast manufactures, producing our own nccessaiT articles, while at the same time supplying other nations with them. \\o have in America some of the greatest manufacturers of the world and iru^ny fortunes have been made in this line. Our commerce is veiT extensive, our merchant's ships dot the distant seas and we trade with all the nations. Our vast continent is covered with a network of railroads, making communication very easy; we have the telephone and the telegra[)h. two of the great inventions during this era of peace, wliich enable us to be in very close communication with distant points. "We have one of the greatest systems of free education in the world and perhaps the only one of its kind. We liave nundjers of Colleges and Universities, where a higher education may be obtained. We have institutions of charity of every description in which the less fortunate of humanity receive cai'e. We have the im'entive geniuses of the world. More inventions have been made during this era than perhaps ever before. In literary lines we have the greatest pliilosophers, poets, and writers of the century. During this time we have also produced some of the most able scientists of the world. And coidd this have happened during war? Xo, it is Init the result of peace. What has this century of picace meant to Great Britain? Practically the same that it iuis meant to the United States. This mighty empire on whose territory the sun never sets, has gained nnich of her greatness during tliis century of peace. Triiat has tliis peace meant to the other nations — to Japan. China. France. Germany and all the other countries which comprise our inter- national union of to-day? Have they not progressed rapidly under tlie beneficial influence of peace between tlie two leading nations of their union. The smaller countries have made rapid strides towards general betterment, liaving such an e.\am]ile of peaco before Ihein. TTnclcr this influence of peace tlanntless men and women have piei'ced the wilds of savage countries^ bringing the truth of the gospel and a taste of civilization to our savage brethren. This peace lias fostered international brotherhood; nations who think alike will not dispute. The opening of the various cosmopolitan clubs has done much to foster this feeling of common brothcrliood and promote peace. They bring the nation into closer communieation, and we all know that it is by cinnmunii-ation that we develop. ITow are we to preserve this peace of a century so that it may continue throughout the centuries from generation to generation? Only in one v/ay — by arbitration. To argue that arbitration is better than war is as useless as to argue that civilization is better than barbarism. "We all are convinced that })eaceful settlement of dilferenees is superior to riot and bloodshed. For the purpose of promoting peace, fostering international broth.erhootl, and establishing arbitration in place of war, there lias been founded at The Hague an International Court of Arbitration. Andrew Carnegie, recognizing the worthiness of such a tribumil, has (hmated $1,500,000 for the ];)urpose of erecting a pernuuicnt home for this court, to be known as The Temple of Peace. Ai'bitration lias settle'd several disputes whieli have remaine:! scttletl, while great wars have oidy temporarily settled sinuhrr nuitters. War costs millions of dollars and lives, while arbitration costs comparatively nothing. In c(mclusion, let us resolve to celebrate this anniversary of peace in a suitable way. Let us tell our children of it, for they will be the nation of the years to come. Let us scatter broadcast the blessings of peace, and may eacli heait be lifted up to its benevolent Creator in a prayer of thanksgiving ami the request that our grand and glorious country may long enjoy the benign influence of peace. Peace, the soothing angel, has bent o'er us many years. Her wings have enshadowed us and driven away our fears; May the Almighty Father in His wisilom ami His love (irant her presence to us longer from the regions up al)(i\e. GOLD PRIZE MEDAL Awarded by Uie Societ_y at the final lueetiiifif of Judg-es May I'Jth. 1^^\ *-^^*' 'j.^^^ \^ '0^ .4 0. -^-^-0 'A It > ^■w*-^^- «.- & -^ -^ /^ .trA^" - ^ '^o\