The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-08-27

Minds, which are especially predispos-
ed to believe in the Peace doctrines of
American Peace Society, or who are dis
posed to ignore the emphatic predictions
of Jesus, respecting the continuance of
wars and rumors Of wars, down TO the
end Of the age, have hailed, as it seems
to u.s. quite prematurey and without sut-
ticent consideration, the inauguration of
the Geneva Conference. Does anybody
really think that we have arrived at a So
cial era, when arrogance and violence can
be controlled by any such tribunal as that
now being held? 1t were very happy
thing for mankind were it possible. But
is it Has the Geneva Court any pow
er to take in hand beligerent questions, or
to dispose Of questions involving war, un-
less the parties, between which they ar
bitrate, are really desirious Of avoiding
an open rupture, and the labor OF the ar
bitrators aided by reciprocal understa nd,
ing? Such in fact, are the real circum-
stances Of the case. With no desire on
the part Of England and America to GO
10 war, it is an easy task for Italian
Swiss and Brazilian diplomats to solve
the problem presented.
"Arbitraton' says modern writer
ais all very well for the earthen vessels
but not for the brazcn pots, and there
exists uncomfortable forces the shock O.
which diplomacy is harmless to prevent.
Questions which do not. involve very
much Of national passion, or religious an
tagoniSm. or prncely ambition, and which
relate. like the case at Geneva, to mer,
pccunlary matters, such courts may han
die. But this is far from meeting the
aspirations and wishes Of such, as wan
to make the world little better, to SAY
the least, than what it is. The truth is
say what we will, that war; in the alb
stract, is popular; and it only require
provocations OF the right sort, and whic
are but too abundant, to make it popula
in the concrete When the great Pow
ers are really DESTROYS OF getting rid q
war, not only will such councils as tina
as Geneva be held, but disarmament @
the vast aud increasing forces now he'll
in readiness for any emergency, shall be
come, with them, matter OF policy an
fact. A bit Of history, consequent upo
the close OF the Crimean war, seems
practical commentary on the matter uu
der consideration. The Powers there, q
their conference at Paris, undertook t
submit all questions Of war for the fl
ture to neutral powers. But how not t
do any such things, has been pretty We
illustrated, by the wars OF France wit
Italy, Prussia against Austria and Gel
many with France. Arbitration, in thos
cases, was very conveniently forgotten b
some OF the very Powers, which in cour
ell amused themselves with the question
The stronger nations may arbltrate {
not, at their option, BUT generally,
will only be the weaker ones at the di,
tation of the stronger, who submit to arb
tration, which, such case would be bl
winning farce for the latter, aud
losing tragedy Tor the former.
At present, the worlds aspect seen
more like Joel's prophecy, third chapt,
and niuth aud tenth verses, than iii
that Of Isaiah, III his second chapte
The era Of social harmony aud nation
= frateinization has not arrived. 1t wi
: only come to pass when that wisdo
. spoken of by an apostle, shall becon
general, which he characterized, las comir
" from above, aud as first pure and tn,
= peaceable." The herald OF universal pea
is not the Geneva Conference.