The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-12-02 00:00:00

SATURDAY. DECEMBER 2, 1871

WAR AND ARBITRATION.

A meeting of the Worknisn's Peace As
boil has been held in London. The object of
this association is to promote the movement for
the adoption of arbitration in lien of war. Any-
thing were desirable in the abstract than such
an object as this it would not be easy to discover
among the many aims and ends of our multifa-
rious societies; and it is gratifying thereon, to
find that favourable reports c old be reielered
as to what had been actually done. But unhap-
pily this is soon summed Hp. Mr. Henry Rich-
ard is next session to bring forward a motion in
the House of COIIIIIIOII3 infavonr of a system of
international arbitration iastead of having re-
course to war, and at the meeting referred to. it
was reported that successful meedings huh been
held at several place,' mottle el, and that ar-
rangements are pending f, similar meetings.
That is really ali that can be reported. Consid-
ering all the influence and pr s ige at work in
favour of war, though as a ut resort, allti all
the elements of strife throughout Europe, this
is nut much perhaps, but it is &Anything ; it is
but a feeble commencement of a reut woe k, but
still it is a commencement ; the work that has
been accomplished may easily be over-rat• .1, but
it ought not to be under-rate.t. As to the object
aimed at, it is impossible to ov,.r-estimate its
value, and we quite agree, therefore, with some
of the re marks of Professor S. (ley, a letter from
whom was read at the meeting, tl.ough frotu
other remarks we must dissent. His entire let-
ter is worth examination. "It is an encourag-
ing sign," he says, " that the new class wbich is
now waking to political consciousness in Eng-
land should have enough independence of
thought, leaving the beaten road of politics, to
place international fraternity upon their pro-
gramme." Here we heartily agree with him.
The question of war or arbitration ia not a po-
litical one; at least it has nothing to do with
party polities. The most staunch Conservative,
the man who cares nothing for either party, or
the most advanced Radical, may consistently co-
operate with his fellow working men in endeav-
ouring to promote the principle of international
fraternity. Peace or war is especially a working
man's question. When a war desolates a coun-
try, it is the working classes who most suffer.
All classes suffer more or less, with the excep-
tion of the comparatively few who happen to
profit by dealing in the material of warfare, or
who in some other way manage to derive tempo-
rary advantage from the prosecution of the
strife ; but the rule is that when two countries
are at war, all classes in both countries suffer,
and the industrial class the most of all. Hence
this class has the greatest interest in promoting
the principle of international fraternity. The
Workmen's Peace Association is, therefore, doing
a good work in urging this principle on the at-
tention of the working community. But we
cannot be so sanguine as to the effect of this as
is Professor Seeley. He says, " The support of
the working men, if they make good the profes-
sion of their manifesto, that their aims and
views are thoroughly practical, may carry the
scheme over its first hindrance, which is the
difficulty of obtaining a hearing." This proviso
of an •‘ if" is imporiant. The question is
whether these aims and views con be proved to
be thoroughly practical. So far as moral sup-
port to Mr. Richard's forthcoming motion is
concerned, meetings of working men in favour
of peace will be, to some extent, practical, but it
is to be feared that if it be ever so practical. and
Mr. Richard's motion be carried by ever so large
a majority—which is looking a long way ahead
—the actual substitution of interuational arbi-
tration for war woulu be as improbable as ever.
And even looking still further ahead, and sup
posing that certain nations were to agree to
adopt areitration inst.-ad of war under supposed
contingencies, how would the decisions of tht.
arbitrators be enforced on that nation that might
find their decision against leer This is the
weak point of tin, iuternationil arbitration sys-
tciu—the necessity to resort so was as au ultim-
atum, when arnit: ition has Elea, its utmost en.l
f die ed.

But. it may ba arked world, to
be contintiaby i‘uoject to tilt: La ks of
whetlar nation is to war 11a., ~ti ,11 at hit
will of kings and potentate,. • the
are powerles, to preveut the erinia of ilacrlii•
for Nils s.a,!l a

tionil blemish, ;
supposition, and it is tite spread of Chris:inuity
not as a mere nominal religion, but as a eiml
power, that wiil gradually tewl to lessen the
price of those ihiluences il. iouirectly favour
war. In abstract theJry non, Ind a madman
would advocate war, but occasions are ever ari-
sing when we are told that war is necessary, aud
the alleged necessity is nearly always decided
rather by ambition and passion than by rea,on.
Must it ever be so? Heaven forbid. To speed
the good time coming the advocacy of interna-
tional arbitration must surely be of some avail.
In any case it can do no harm, and may du touch
good. Something will be dune to benefit man-
kind whenever the British Runge of Commons
shall declare solemnly in favour of international
arbitration instead of war. Peace bath her vic-
tories as well as war, and this aill be a moral
victory that though it may not he so potent as
Mr. Richard and his supporters anticipate, will
exercise a beneficent influence on our own and
other countries.

110,763 CUMIN OF ASTHMA, CONSUMPTION, AND DlsOn•
05.155 01 THZ 1111wAT AND Lt:NtiS, RHEUMATIC,
HYSTERICAL, NssvouS, AST. HEAL? tOMPLAIYTS, BY
4:UCO.;K'S WAYLRS 131% z links PußLisnr.D IN
Tile LAST 12 moNTHA.—lhe benefit to society which haa
resulted from the discovers df this MediClne so, however,
far greater than these figures show, as many thousands
of cures are effected and not made pine. Dr. Locock's
Wafers no sold by ev.:ry medico.° dealer, in buses, at
prices Sr on 14 lid di its. MO as to facet the dreams:au-
ens of cli rauks. Be careful I • Illy nAille In the Go.
verhineht St

'•Tig Lo, TUX NEI, AND ID Monad.-- fo
vent Pirates, and ni.priai.iiitt:d m di ceiving
the publy, tau Liz if Pow k.1.1:4 IiAI.NAM or AN,
is b. err to oil p, tlie above Trite Mark
id iii, .•i d,i•!. awl [DIA deADO Will in tutor'
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the W. 1.1.4,,

.11t.timg it render tlieui.o.hes
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(0 tllc Wi/Ild eful AtIVJ propertm,
Ul,llll INK.—" I Maje,l3C,,
N C,14 of

—Having h a moat di,ire.

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