New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-11-18
DIR. J. II. MILES.
LETTER FROM ELIHU BURRITT.


y M;os General Secretary Of the International Associa
lion for tho Codi6catIon Of International Laws VIII
doubtless be noticed in newspaper paragraphs 'hIous
out the country But how few who read them VIII rea1e
his fun relation to OF the most remarkaDie anu iii
nortant movements OF the agei To say that II Ia re-
markabe and important does ii small justice IN regard 10
ts bearings on the welbeng OF nations As no one so
fully az ysef knows what he was and did for this move
ment should be glad TO present 10 the public lew
facts In regard to his relation To it.
SO late as three years ago the pubcsts and urists OF
ClristendOm had never met 10 compare notes or 10
bring their collective wisdom TO bear upon the eDora
ton Of an international code OF laws for regulating the
relations and conduct of nations. For several cen
tune eminent. writer's wide intervals between Their
productions had given their individual opinions 10 the
world Those of Gr0tius, Punendorf and OF later "lr
like Wheaton, had been treated with considerable respect
by the more advanced Governments. Al the almost
simultaneous organization of the American and Euro
pcan Peace Societies, about sixty years ago "elened
international code was regarded by both as consumna
zion worthy OF their best hopes and efforts. William
Ldd who may be considered the founder and father OF
tho American Society, threw himself into the
movement TO this great end Win an
enthusiasm OF faith and labor seldom eqnaled IN any
other cause He not only wrote and spoke to the close Oh
his life in favor of International Code, bnt OF High
Court of Nations 10 apply il, and which should be to II
and them something like the supreme Court OF the Uned
states. Prize essays the subject pubilshch III large
volume, were TO all the s0vereigns ana eaiins
statesmen of Europe. In the great Peace Congresses III
Brussels, Paris, Frankfort, and London, az the propose
lion as developed and rather Ladds proportions, were
considered AN American IDEA It's presentation and adYo
cacy devolvcd upon myself, task which tried to per-
form To the best of my ability.
For the next 20 years after the last OF these Peace
Congresses the proposition OF an international Code ana
Court seemingly made progress In the puOhc NINA
But when the Joint High Commissioners met NJ wash
hist If
between the United States and England the necessity
and value OF such code and court were seen and fcl
by thousands Of thoughtful men Of dhereut countries
who had before given any serious consideration 10
tie subject Indeed, the High Commissioners had rs u
We're TO exemporize the spot certain rules or ele
nents OF international law basis of ajudicaturc
Thus to certain degree they had TO assume some OF
the most important functions of Congress Of Julsts
Then in appointing the Court OF Arbitration at Geneva
TO act upon the rules they had adopted they created
special or temporary High Court OF Nations resembling
in its constitution aud action the International Tribunal
which the friends Of peace had advocated for so years
II was at This stage OF the question that DR.. Miles
brought 10 it ygOr OF mind and indomtale earnest
ness effort which in three years carried IT 10 sch an
issue 10 other great ever reached IN the same
period OF advocacy. He had inst let his pastoral charge
over large congregation in Chmlestown Mass. 10 he
come Secretary OF the American Peace Society whose
funds were small and precarious and inadequate to sus
tain any specal effort however well II promised Tor the
cause Still though he had often to rely upon his private
means and the occasional help Of personal friends he sci
on foot and led such ement the friends az peace
never witnessed before III this country lie FELT Oi great
importance 10 impress upon the public mind what had
been gained the peace and Webeng Of nations IN the
Washington Treaty He Immediately originated series
OF pubic meetings Tor this purpose, beginning in Boston
and ext ndng to Washington, including New-I0r PM
adelphia, Baltimore, and other large towns Besides
these meetings were held all over Hew-ngand ana the
people heard and thought more on the subject IN two
months han they had all their lives before. II was
my privilege TO 30 with him 10 most OF these meetings
and 90 speak platform with him. and Ia notice
the Impression which bis fervid cloGuence made upon
every audience. 1t at Newi}edford while confined
10 our room in hotel by violent storm, mat
we developed a plan Of operations TO bring about
q congress Of jurtsts, statesmen, aud philan-
tlrouists TO elaborate An international code, and
10 provide for the creation Of q High Cour, of
Nations. We drew mp the papers 10 TINS emu, one OF
another inviting eminent IN the different states 10
become members OF au International Code Association to
direct and sustain the movement These papers we mere
and then signed joint sccreaes We were 20 go 10
e ther Europe 70 visit cunen; ns's ana secure helr
adhesion and Attendance But just before the une ior
our departure wac disabled by III healih ana rcnld moi
20 with him. But, ~ he result proved my presence ana
hclp we're not necessary He went alone, ana WIN hls
jndcfaigabe faith, eaTuesncss ana effort no 50 pressed
IL subject upon the consideration OF some OF the most
Distinguished iurists of Europe that they accepted the IL
go Tii,;erencr Of fhe kind ina. was over held
snc.,iop for Inc Coiiraton OF international Laws
organized and English, French and Italian branch asso
cations were formed operate behalf Of the common
object in countries Count scopis was appointed
honorary President OF the general Association ana Dr.
Miles Secretary. -,
The next year The Congress met al Geneva, under The
presidency Of Count scops and IN the same nall III
which the Arbitration Court decided the Alabama qhes
ton. After attending several ratification meetings IN
Italv France, and England, DR.. Miles returned to the
United states, and besides his ordinary dules as Sc"e
fay of Tho American Peace Society devoted mlCh OF ms
Ii and labor TO TIC preparation iol the t'I J1dv
Congress, held a. fcw weeks ago AT inc hdEue'
THIS was the most successful and important,
the subjects weight and influences 0f lis diec.JlS.
The most eminent auh0fit,s on international lllfu
dcnoc present and gave ueir best talent ana eA-
trpncc 10 the conclusions adopted. These are now 10
o. ChristeudOm The International Association was thcre
widely extended and 1liiy organlzed now en-
braces the first pubc,ts and ursts OF thIlstrndoi WIN
Lord Ienzancc for l'fe'd al ana sI.h men ~ I~u en-
terdcn Montague Bernard, Philhm0ie ana ~ ss 81 tu
rand WOnlsey, Lawrence. CI.ici,Justice Wut1, David
Dudley Field and Other distinguished persons ~ America
and iurists of equal eminence of ContheiI Europe ne
officers or members OF the Council FeNe wa, an inter
national association Of such power organized before III
All this then has been virtually the work % a New
England pastor, who, perhaps, had never written 81
wears ago. Taking il at it, present position and posi-
by II may he too much to say That 40 man III is
any other age or country ever dccohabeu pIh 81
cgu1l TO the world III thc space OF thf'
Years That he understood the signs ana lt heeiH Oh
the time and threw himself ilO the movement AT Tie
nOode tie cOnYoTging influences IN ls FAVOR, uocs
not rct from the merit of his efforts the honor OF
their success The movement lie set on loot cahOt 20
back though lie has suddenly fallen 80 near ia great
thD pOnt of view he had reached ! would fam hope
that this small testimony t. his worth ana WORK may
commend both 10 the appreciation ana memory oL many
yLo before knew but ite of what lac vas ana VIVA, nc
did. - EiIhO bus"I4t'