[Footnote 30: In the United States Congress, Mr. Blaine has introduced a bill for calling an international conference in Washington, in 1891, for making an alliance, whose object is the suppression of slavery and the prohibition of alcohol in uncivilized countries. The conference is further to discuss the creation of a tribunal of Arbitration, for the solution of international questions, and a general disarmament.] [Footnote 31: Since amalgamated with the Women's Committee of the International Arbitration and Peace Association.] [Footnote 32: For the objects of this Association see Appendix.] [Footnote 33: "On August 8th, 1891, at a meeting at Seljord, a New Norwegian Peace Association was formed, and a provisional Committee appointed." TRANS.] [Footnote 34: For programme of the Association see Appendix.] [Footnote 35: This principle is likely to be realized by the bill of the constitution of the Brazilian Republic, sanctioned by the executive of the new free State, which proclaims that the Government may not begin a war without having first appealed to arbitration.] [Footnote 36: The scruples entertained by Chili, Argentina and Mexico appear to have been dropped, in the case at least of the two last named.] [Footnote 37: For provisions of this Treaty see Appendix.] THE PROSPECTS. The events which I have here described will perhaps one day be regarded as the transition into a new era. But specially here, in the Old World, with its many unsettled accounts, we cannot rely upon bright pictures of the future. We are convinced of nothing beyond the range of our own knowledge and experience. I have thought so myself, and therefore I have endeavoured to keep to facts which no one can deny. It is a fact that WARS CONTINUALLY DIMINISH in proportion as peoples are brought nearer to one another by trade and commerce. The old warlike condition has ceased. Formerly not a year passed without war in Europe--in the Middle Ages hardly a week. After 1815 an international peace reigned over most of the European States for forty years. In the Scandinavian peninsula that peace is continuing still. Before that time, at least until 1721, Sweden was almost continually involved in war. We reckon two hundred and sixty years of war to the Kalmar Union, and the proneness to invade and defend the countries on the other side the Baltic. The old CAUSES OF WAR ARE BEING REMOVED. Certainly new ones arise as a result of selfish patriotism, breaking out in new acts of violence. But these outbreaks of barbarism become continually more rare. Unhappily, they are so much the more horrible when they do occur, but yet much More transitory. This is applicable to all the great wars in the last half of the present century. No thirty years' war is known now.