Answer: It is very evident that in the future there shall be no
centralization in the countries of the world, be they constitutional in
government, republican or democratic in form. The United States may be held up
as the example of future government—that is to say, each province will be
independent in itself, but there will be federal union protecting the interests
of the various independent states. It may not be a republican or a democratic
form. To cast aside centralization which promotes despotism is the exigency of
the time. This will be productive of international peace. Another fact of
equal importance in bringing about international peace is woman’s suffrage.
That is to say, when perfect equality shall be established between men and
women, peace may be realized for the simple reason that womankind in general
will never favor warfare. Women will not be willing to allow those whom they
have so tenderly cared for to go to the battlefield. When they shall have a
vote, they will oppose any cause of warfare. Another factor which will bring
about universal peace is the linking together of the Orient and the Occident.
(“The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by
‘Abdu’l-Bahá during His Visit to the United States and Canada in
1912”, p. 167) [81]
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