New-York tribune., 1881-10-28
GENEVA PEACE CONGRESS.

LIBERTY-A LETTER FROM GARIBALDl-rHE
| PRESIDENTS ADDREss-THE UNITED STATES
AND THE LEAGUE-sYAiPATHY FOR MRS GAR
| FIELD-TuE PERSONNEL OF THE EXECUTIVE
| COMMITTEES
| TO the EdftOr Of The Tribune
SIR: In September, 1867, little more than
year after the battle of Sadowa. there assembled in
the vast hall of the Paais Electoral in this city,
| II rfer the presidency of Garibad large body of
| delegates who had come together from all parts of
Europe to protest against and to lift up their
voices in favor Of peace The streets of the bcaut
full Swiss metropolis were filled with crowds of
| p,Ople the houses were decked with flags and the
great Italian patriot received most enthusiastic
| welcome whenever he appeared in public. The
promoters of this famous Peace Congress foresaw
then what has since ccne to pass the aggrandize
ment of Prussia, the unity of Germany, the newt
| able contest between the Gaul and the TeutOn for
the military leadership of Europe the colossal arma
ments of the Great Powers; and a consequence
OF all these sinister events the peace of Europe
tinually menaced by ambitious princes and restless
soldiers At this moment was founded the organi
| zation tho International League OF Peace and Lib
erty which has been holding its sessions in this city
| during the past few days.
But how different the scene in September 1851,
! from what 1t was in September 1867! There IS no
! hero to elcOme, the city is not in gala dress,
| multitude obstructs the thOroughlares no vast and
enthusiastic audience listens TO the orators of the
| assembly. small but earnest body of peacemakers
| the real workers of 1sG7-have met, proclaimed
the old truths and departed having created scarcely
| n ripple of excitement in this city which once
received them with such unbounded enthusiasm.
| And vet the causes which produced the first Con
crcss are tenfold moro powerful to-day than then,
| for what was in lS67 fear, terrible possibility,
| il in 1851 a vlTulent actualIty. Human nature is
| phlegnatic, it needs spur to awaken it to full
activity. When Europe is suddenly plunged into
another tremendous armed contest, then perhaps we
| shall sec assemble at Geneva Congress even
greater than that Of fourteen years ago. In the
| meanwhile these humble ref0rmers will keep up
their cry of alarm unObseryed by the great world at
! large.
The public session of the Congress occurred on the
! Goth inst. in a pretty little hall which well
| filed by a largo and distinguished audience in
! Guiding a number of ladies. ! noticed among the
! listeners Mr.. j. lIOrnung Professor of International
| Law at the University of Geneva, Mr.. Jousseran-
| dot Professor of Law in the same institution, and
| many other and women of position. Mr..
! Zvgmund MilkOwski, the greatest and the most
! fecund of the Slavic nOyeligts, whose pseudonym,
| T. Tic1" is beginning to be known in occidental
Europe opened the meeting with a short address,
! and then read some OF the many letters which had
| Among them was n short note from Victor Hugo,
who. by the way presided at the Lausanne Congross
| in 1869: a courteous and very friendly response
! from Gladstone and some cheering words from Mr..
! Gustaye Moynier, president OF the Red Cross So
cir,y Here is the translation of Garbadis charac-
tcristic letter. addressed to the president OF the
! League:
CABRERA, Sept 20. 1881.
| DEAR LFN0NNTER: Evil Is more powerful than
| - ..rtl ttflIE lt.ap \
! moi lose courage. Dr,potiSm aud iat-ehoOd are
/ stronger than ever united by fear and voracity.
And the people i-thcy stand ready {" applauu WIN
] enthusiasm! Forgive mo this moment ot pesslnism.
! With my soul | shall be ever with you'-aHd your
devoted. t. UAEibALll
Jean Clavcnna. plosterer by trade, and dele
gate from tho CousolaJo Operaio. OF Milan, one OF
! the strongest worhingneus organizations in Italy.
made speech which was much applaudcd.
Madame Marie Gucgg. of Geneva. tall. fine looking
aud intelligent lady one of the most ndefatgab.e OF
! Swiss rrformcrs read an eloquent cttcr from Slr.
| Alfred II. Love. of Phila c!phia. Then came an
! admirable communication from Italy from the pen
of Aurclio Sani the friend of Mazzini, and a tri-
umvir OF the ephcmcra Roman Republic of 1919.
This letter written in nervous style. shows that
| the ardent Republican Of moro than thirty years
ago is still a firm believer IA popular institutions
have faith in the Republic says the aged Italian
Irrcconcilablo: that is to say. in Liberty Jus
|
civilization. that is, Of all the live forces which
| Reason. Science aud Work develop in modern
.,rety The Ecpublic will not die IL is, on the
contrary destined to become more firmly ti~'d IN
Europe rne procl of this is that in France where
Iti,a living fact its complete triumph Is growing
NOR, certain every day. The last elections are a
| striking eyidcncc of this. And everywhere indeed
the tendency Of thought and the social action OF
pcoples who are rising from the coalition oil re-
! signed slave, is decidedly republican. The dyhas
, c,ipciple i, no longer rooted in the faith of the
multitude Constitutional Monarchy Is nothing
NOR, than a transitory form when conceal5 the
| Iopgin,, for sclf-government among people already
ripe for liberty. .'
The ,i,ce dr. resistance Of the evening was tho able
address of Mr. Charles Lemonnicr, president OF the
Ie,nue on the means of putting an end TO war aud
| of sub,titutng for the armed truce under which
| Europe now Ii yes a real and permanent peace. Mr.
| Lemonnicr by the way, Is one OF the lew OiISlhai
SiInonians still left in France. and one or the
| best specimcns of Il sensible French Radical once
a week during the winter months this queer litte
| old gentleman filled to overlooking with noble ana
| Generous motives holds a reception ip ms pam
small parlor up under the roof OF one OF the iolty
bonses in the Rue Tronchet within sight of the
| Nodelaine and | know no better place IN all iaris
q, tudv the oldest aud the newest phases Of French
| podi,alism Mr. IcmOnncr divided his subject
| irto three heads, viz simultaneous and proper
| tionaI disarmament; International arbitration;
federation Of the free peoples of Europe In treat
| ING Of the important question OF international
arbitration no referred to the memorable case of
| tho Alabama that Southern pirate which the
| English Government wrongfully suffered TO be
clopdestincly armed in its ports, and for whose
creat ravages England condemned to pay to
fine United States 75000,0O0 francs" Further on
MFR. Iemonnier said: " There is nothing to prevent
nations already free from forming one nation with
| another. treaties of permanent arbitration for
| duration of fifteen or twenty years The United