The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-08-21 00:00:00

X•ONDON "WO

ARBIT I' ATION v. WAR.

TiforGEt the much-to-be-desired time whell
tile lotions of the earth. shall make \`:::1'
more "is not. vet," despite all the aelLi;:ve-
ments of religion :L!it n .e. and philcs-)pliy,
the p,:are-feeling Is cei thinly gaining gronwt
universally. The organisation of peace-
makers in England and elsewhere under the
banners of the International Arbitration
Association and of the Peace Society, has
done not a little in the direction of securing
a practical utilisation of the moral forces
which everywhere lie ready to hand for
stemming the horrible tide of war. Some-
thing has already been accomplished in
actually silencing the clash of arms, and
differences threatening the world's peace
have been settled at the Council-table instead
of on the tented field. So sweet is the blood-
less victory of peace that many great and
good men are devoting thew selves with more
or less 'zeal to the institution of an Inter-
national High Coirt of Arbitration, which
should have authority to deal with and de-
cide quarrels between any of the countries
of the earth. The idea is too Utopian in the
eyes of the man of the world to have the
likelihood of early consummation, and it
bristles with difficulties only too apparent,
aid indeed almost overpowering. There is
an old proverb, however, which assures us
that " the pen is mightier than the sword," ,
and the potency of intellect may yet gain
ascendancy over the savage arbitrament of
physical force. At any rate there are those
of the world's deep thinkers with the hope
strong within them that for the dawn of the
"thousand years of peace" we shall not-have
to live and wait wearily for the far future.
More than that, the countless difficulties
which hedge about and militate against the
satisfactory solution of the international
arbitration question are being boldly and
persistently attacked by men who have
studied hard and lone- in the lesson-book of
war. Surely there are none who will not wish
well to the philosophers who would turn
swords into pruning-hooks, and few but will
strive to assist the peacemakers in their
labour of love. Such an immense undertak-
ing must of necessity advance slowly. A
system which has held sway since 'history
began cannot be swept away in a day, though
all men may be persuaded of its iniquity,
and there is a mighty interest one of the
most powerful in influence in the universe
—ranked in opposition. It is not likely that
the profession of arms will stand idly looking
on at a movement which aims openly at its
utter extinction, Then there are the corol-
laries of the military system—all the indus-
tries engaged in making munitions of war,
and in supplying the necessities ei'• our
soldiers on sea and land'.' Those identified
with these great interests will not unna t tin-
ally use their every effort to the cud of
ridiculing, disheartening, and defeating the
endeavours of the friends of peace. But the
peace-men and peace-women must hold on
to their .good course, nothing daunted by
sneer and laugh and rebuff. The certh.,i I
object and definite aim at present in view
the formation of a Council and High Court
of Arbitration, in the constitution of which
all nations shall take part. The agitation
for securing this first great abiding victory
in the peace campaign now engages the at-
tention of both the Peace Society and the
International Arbitration Association, while
all kindred and affiliated bodies are taking a
keen interest in the matter. Professor.
Leone Levi, an eminent authority on s:,eial
and political economics, and one who has
ever evinced a practical sympathy. with the
peace party, has prepared a project
Council and High Cone.; of Arbitration w rich
is worthy of the most careful consideration,
not only because of tho high ability of its
author, but also on account of the admirable
and exhaustive nature of the suggestions set
forth. The draft, having received the pro-
visional approval of the two chief peace
societies, is now in the hands of the most
distinguished jurists and publicists of En rope
and America, many of whom, it is h,ped,
will express their opinions thereon and .-tdd
original suggestions, at a Conference wllich
is convened for the last week in September.
and which, it has been arranged, will be he'd
at Berne. -We trust that the outcome of all
this will be a broad, bold, definite i):an,
which will receive the favourable consid:Na-
tion of statesmen and legislators everywhere,
and the support of public opinion also. A
forward move of permanent value would then
be assured ; for if the approval of any con-
siderable number ot States of standing c,uuld
be secured to a tangible scheme, a olid
foundation would be laid for future opera-
tions. At first an International Council on
the subject, then the organisation of a per-
manent tribunal to which any international
dispute may be referred, these are goals for
the peace wisher to set himself on wi,ining.
, The most considerable in position and power
' of European and Asiatic, as well as Transat-
lantic States, would, we predict, very soon
fall in with the idea, and the rest of the
world would in time follow. A resort to
arbitration in every misundershnding
between neighbour and other nations would
thus be much facilitated. Cases of minor
importance would probably at first be dealt
with in the High Court, but the practice
would of a certainty extend as confidence
was engendered and increased. An Inter-
national tribunal of a limited authority and
jurisdiction initially, the institution would
grow and strengthen, we see no reason to
doubt, into a Council in which the diplo-
matic friction of the whole world would be
quietly and systematically reduced to
smoothness. Then, in due course, the
soldier's occupation gone, every nation wonld
be spared the ruinous cost of war and of
standing armies, and mothers, widows, and
children would cease to weep for slaughtered
sons, husbands, and fathers. A calling more
profitable to the common weal would be
found for the military, and the r,anufac-
turers of war material could turn thelf atten-
tion to the fabrication of something calcu-
lated to conduce to the general good of
humanity. Someone once wisely said that
the worst use you can put a man to is to kill
him, and it is time the world woke up to
, the truth of the assertion.