The Portland daily press., 1875-03-18
Arbitration in place of War.

Inat there is growing 1eeLng In favor OF
settling international disputes by arbitration
instead of resorting to the barbarous aiterna-
tive of war is clea-. From the Boston Ad0er-
tiser of a recent date we clip the following in
regard to the International Law Association:
The general secretary, DR.. Miles, has just re-
ceived letter from Hon. N. Bredius of the
states general of Holland, in which he writes:
81 have been so happy as to secure the govern
ment's sympathy and cooperation for yoar
meeting in this country next August 1 hope
a great number of your people will afford us
the honor of their presence" 1t is gratifying
to learn of the growing interest in Europe in
toci alton and in its objects and aims.
1t will be remembered the states.general has
adopted resolutions in favor of the peaceful set
tlement of the differences of nations, similar to
those previously adopted by the British Parlia-
ment, the Chamber of Deputies at Rome, the
Diet of Sweden, and our Congress. In the dis
cusson of those resolutions in Holland the
speakers on both sides took occasion to COM
mend the ASSOCIATION, aud to express confident
expectations of its success NJ. Van Ecke, who
introduced the resolutions, said: "Next year
our country, and indeed this city, will be hon.
Oreu Dy u VlSlG JTUul COuItIcuC6 VI Luc f1o-
socation for the Reform and Codifcation of
the Laws of Nations. 1 hope that, when Civ
ing them welcome to our country, we may be
able to show them that the Dutch nation, in
its efforts for right and justice, knows how to
unite actions with professions"
The speakers who opposed the resolution did
80, as they intmated, for the reason that at
tempts to secure universal arbitration will be
Intellectual except in the way the Interna-
tional Association proposes, by beginning with
the codification of international law. Baron
Mackay said: IF one wishes to make an end
of war in Europe, there is only one means
left-it is this: to codfv the laws OF nations,
and institute an international court" Count
Won Zuyler said: "A general system of arbi-
tration requires, before its adoption, If not an
international code at least determined rules
for proceeding to it." Lord Derby has recently
said: "Unhappily there is no International tri-
bunal to which such cases of dispute can be
referred, and there IS no International law to
meet such cases. If such tribunal existed it
would be great benefit to the civilized world.
1t may then be asked, of what use are these
resolutions in favor OF arbitration IN the
different legislatures? Henry Richard. M F.,
the pioneer in these movements IN the leglsla-
tutes, answers: "The advantage is obvious and
immense. 1t is acknowledged on all hands, in
these days, that no salutary and lasting change
can be effected in the national habits and in
stitutions except through the power of public
opinion. Seldom does such an initiative arise
with governments, and, if it did, its success
would probably be doubtful. What is imposed
by the me1e will Of the few is often received
with comparatively little favor But how is it
possible that a more, legitimate or more en-
phatic expression can be given of the wishes of
the people in this respect than by the deliber-
ate votes of these repre- sentative assemblies,
which are chosen for the very purpose of giving
articulate utterance to the popular vote?''
That is, these votes are an expression by the
people of their dissatisfaction with the present
war sy stem and of their wish that some meth
cd may be devised for the peaceful settlement
of the differences of nations. The Internation-
al Association has undertaken to devise that
method by an endeavor to reform and codfy
the law of nations, and to secure the constitu
toon Of an international tribunal. And certain
ly this association cannot be too prompt and
earnest in its work. For glance at the pres
ent condition of the nation prompts the anx-
ious question, "What of the night? True, the
Queen in her speech refers to the peace of Eu-
rope. And yet, have we no reason to fear it is
peace beneath which volcanic fires are tenn
porarily slumbering? Statesmen to-day are
perplexed beyond measure by the prodigious
growth of the military system, and, as result
of military indebtedness. Even victorious Ger
many is crushed by heavy taxes, and her peo-
pie have become bondmen 10 the intolerable ex-
actions cf universal militaryism. Dr. Lowen-
thai of Berlin, in a recent letter. forcibly de-
scrbes the condition of his native land. He
says:
Gall good fathers of families labor to provide
Cor 10 for thair nffc ~ p,,ft tla;x
endeavors are in large degree counteracted so
long as they see suspended over their heads the
sword of Damocles,- that constant apprehen-
sion of war, through which the political system
of modern Europe has degraded itself to the
level of the savage red Indians of North Amer
lea, inasmuch as it compulsorily retains under
armed conscrption, or idle barrack life, SO
great proportion of the most skillful workers
and artisass amongst the people. Let us
proclaim throughout Europe that we can but
regard these diplomatic expressions, as hunt,
ing down of the populations, and that instead
we earnestly desire to see the settlement OF
international disputes remitted TO tribunal OF
arbitrations, sanctioned by and carrying out
the law of nations
An able English writer, after commenting
| upon the deplorable evil of the military sys-
| tenn, adds: SIN my view the remedy lies in
taking without delay some tentative steps to-
ward the adoption of an International law
| that shall deal with the settlement of disputes,
| and for the establishment of an international
| tribunal." 1t wonld seem that in their efforts
| to discover a way of escape from the increas-
ing burdens and peris of the present war sys-
tenn, thoughtful men in different countries
with remarkable unanimity are looking in the
direction in which the recently formed Inter-
national Law Association is laboring. This
being so, it is to be hoped that that association
will take no backward step. Let it gather to
itself increased efficiency, that, if possible, it
may fulfil the hopes that it is raising.