New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-11-29
INTERNATIONAL Law.

ADDRESS BY RICHARD HENRY DANA, JR.' BEFORE
THE LONG ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
A cultivated audience was gathered last even
ing in the BROOKLYN Athenaum to listen to address on
"The Moral History Of International Law by Richard
H. Dana jr before the Long Island Historical society
The President Of the society," the Rev. Richard D. stof
d. d., occupied the chair. Among those present were
Henry c. Murphy, the Rev. DIR. William Ives buu-
ington the Rev. A. p. Putnam, Bishop Abraham NJ Lit
tleohn s. b. Chittenden. and exMayor John W. Hunter
In opening his address, Mr. Dana referred to the contrast
between ancient modern methods Of carrying ON war
and treating prisoners and then announced MS Intention
IN show the causes Of the difference. He said III sub
stance:
Is it enough say that civilization accounts tor the
diferencel No, for the civilization OF some OF tue an
cent nations equaled and perhaps exceleu ouI omi
Nations arc men, and in the ancient NATIONS we u
certain fundamental TO account for the dnerenct
And first among these h poly theism TINS was NOT UNI
versa 1t true but no other religious IDEAS eNteuGeu
Deyond national boundaries and interests iSlcn nV
had its own gods and deemed an act Oh pcty 70
exrpate and overthrow those OF Other hations IN a
or brotherhood the duty Of philanthropy me thlrd
cause was the diversity OF language Tine nations had
little in common; there little communication De,
tween states and interpreters were rare so war anu
isolation the normal and necessary CONDITION OF te
ancient nations. Commerce. II not mpiou5, was lgODe.
Shpwrecked vessels were lawful plumber there was 40
treaty aud the shpwrecked became slaves Inc komahs
had only one word for stranger ana enemy. war was
the sentence OF death against every man. anu tuS
confscation OF every thing not destroyed siaVGs VI
by every religion except the Christian Threeourth3 OF
the population of Greece were slaves. C3safs tiiiG
war gave to Rome half million OF slaves ana the Idll
Jerusalem reduced to slavery 10000 OF the chI en-
OF Israel. Agriculture. once regarded as PuIsht ~
for dictator: passed to manacled hands, ettcreu Iee
and branded iOreheads" and in time all labor can't 70
be performed by slaves Inc laws gave the eiozgd quo
power or life and death over MS whe auu Gul'uIoh'
Hence a universal disregard OF life was produced
When Christ exclaimed, AN eye Tor an eye anu
tooth for a tooth" He described that which was the law
of his age and OF all that preceded 1t; and when ne
said, Love your enemies, all men are your nelgLDOrs
peaIf Tho af
standard toward which international law lOr loUO Years
has been surely and rapidly approaching Herein Is tne
contrast the ancient system. Here we see the unity
and brotherhood OF all human beings. Christ declared
one Coda sympathetic G0d-befOre Whom the troops
ancient gods vanished The relations OF men 10 men
duty The meaIest human being Is declared 10 ne
OF Divine origin and destined, before heaFen an
earth begun, TO an eHistene t InaV "S The
endure when heaven and earth should plssA"ay. Inc
system the creation OF Cnrlstahy'
Commerce has steadily risen in dignity anu mpothcS
and has conserved Christian unity Ii In scarcely pOssl
lie tn limit the effects OF the study OF the Roman civil
law. Before Christianity there Was no such lhlhg AZ
resident ambassador Reason and moral sense say tuaI
arbitration best method OF settling ntcrnRuOna
disputes and the example III this direction set ny
England and America Is the latest ana pest HulI Vi
Christian civilization. Applause The end OF war
Which ia its jnstihcatIon A city is surrendered
now TO orderly government, aud the muhlcipa
laws not changed beyond WHAT ~ hcCesSs tt
IN the English or French should take possession III TINS
CITY OF BrOOklyn, presume that justice would not De
administered than 10 has for tine past 10 OF 10
years ana do not think your taxes would DC uuf i
gr, ter Laughter aud applauSel In modern wars inc
ntd Uf philanthropy s As vide as the nell VI ptc, GU
this r.neration mas witnessed Florence Nightingale ana
Tue sanitary Commission. Private property Is usuauJ
tr.n,rfrl by armies on the march. II any one doubts
dat 500 years ago seeds were planted OF WOherlui
frlctfyng and generatiye power, when nave spreau
rrpJsc beneath them let MIN study mpartlay ana WIN
care the moral history OF international law Applause.