, 1875-09-28
INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION.


Tho Association for tho Ileforln And Codi-
fscasion Of the Lava Of Nations closed it's
session Of la15 at Tho 1fnguo on tho anl,t.
yersa1y Of tho fall Of tho French Empire,
Sept. !. The Empire fell by neg'ecting ono
Of the main principles which tic AHsociotion
wishes to promote,--that OF international
nrbi,ration. The question WINS eagerly do
hated by the Congress- and son,o new light
was thrown Upon it.
It seems thnt ono provision Of tho Paris
Treaty Of 1876 declared Tint intesnation"!
dispute, sought" to 10 submitted to arli-
trat;on before declaration Of var was made.
This wns a recommendation, not ruio, nnt1
hts therefore boon alnoat entirely .lisro-
garflcl. There waa no arbitration boforo tho
French campaigns in Italy in 1850; none bo-
tween Prussia nnd Austrin OIL tho one
aide, alsl Denmark on the other, in
1866; noue in 1876, When tho two robber-
NATIONS qua1rciea over thaiz booty and
mono in 1870, WHEN franco fought her duel
Of denth. The most notable case Of nsbitra-
tion, In fact, has been between two nations,
ono Of which refused to hecome party to
tho pact OF Paris. Tho Uuitcd States wns
requested to join In Tint memorable dceanra-
tion Of tho ru1oB Of civilized warfare, but Do
clined, through WILLIAM L. Manor, the then
Sccretary Of Statc, QUO of our forgotten
statesmen, wloso nau.e, it remembered at
nil, il recalled only as that OF the author Of
tho infamous political dogma: ITO the vic
tor belong the Bpoi'H." Mr.. MAnoY ofton ux~
pressed lis deop regret ut having suggested
this corr,pting theory, but tho practice Of it
curses us to this day.
We oi1crod to join in tho Paris Declaration,
provided tho Congress Of Nations which pro-
mnlgatcd it would add the statement that
"freo ships mike FREQ goods" Tho world
lspE rot got grown up to this doctrine, but
tho United States Inns the credit OF being tho
first nation to formally declare ita belief in 1t.
Tho grounds Oh which tue Congress that
Inns Just ndjournod declared its faith in tho
binding effect Of tho DEGREES OF an Inter1ua-
tional Tribunal, sort Of High Court of Na-
tipnH, arc worth consideration. As summed
III, by one Of the membcra, DR.. M1LEs, M
American and the General Secretary Of tho
Association, they are, first, tho nRt1ro Of
tho Courts origin ; aecoud, its character !;
third, tho sentiment Of natioua1 honor and
fourth, the enlightened selGslsness Of each
nation. The Court would be established by
tho voluntary consent of all the nntions will
ing to nnite for this purpose. It would be
representative in its character. Tho nations
! represented would bo bound in honor To
obey the aecrces. II this rr1Ssed insufficient,
the whole forco of tho leagted countries
could be called upon to compel obedience,
just ag the force of tho whole United
States cen be used to enforce the
Judgment Of District Court from
Mime to Oregon. Finally, 1t will be to
tho interest Of every nation to obey, just as it
is to tho tr11o interest Of every man to obey
the decisions Of the courts of his country.
The Congress ut The Haguo affirmed thcso
facts; passed a resolution that it was tho
duty Of Governments, in the interest OF
humanity and civilization, To enter upon NO
gotiationa for the purpose Of o mutual rcluc-
ton OF ar,naments; and requested ChtstaI-
tlom to take practical stops towards tho
establishment of international arbitration.
We learn with varying emotions that DAVID
DUDLEY F11Ip was elected ico-presidont
of the Association for the noxt ycar. Wo
| shoull prefer 10 have America complimento1
through Ro1n0 other man than tho friend
| ana lawyer Of Fiak and TWEED.