The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-23
THE QUESTION OF ARBITRATION.
Hearing of the Committee of the Society of
Friends by the Senate Foreign COMMITTEES.

The Senate committee on foreign affairs,
Senator Sherman chairman. recently had a
hearing of the committee appointed by the So
ciety OF Friends upon the subject of interna-
ticnal arbitration. The proceedings at that
hearing were as follows. taken from the official
report:
The Observation-Disclosures. the committee
will re very glad to hear what you have to say
upon the subject before US.
MIR. Hobbs-During the last autumn we had =
very extraordinary meeting OF the Society Of
general inteies. of the Society Of Friends, and
those appointed were instructed to hold an ar
bitration and peace meeting as we'll after the
other interests were disposed of. That meeting
represented London. Dublin. New England. New
York, Philadelphia Baltimore, North Carolina,
Ohio indiana, Iowa, Kansas, and Canada year
iy meetings. representing the whole society In
the world. They felt, as did the delegation from
the Parliament of Grest BSitaln that brought
memorial from two hundred and thirty-thres
members or the Parliament to tho President on
the subject of the introduction of an agreement
in our diplomatic relations that all matters that
could not be adjusted by Diplomacy could, IN
stead OF appealing to the sword. be settled, II
space between diplomacy and the aroitramen
of war that ought to be filed for the benefit and
peace of nations Our war OF 1872. II seems to
me- might have been well avoided. but England
and the United States had no international law
which would settle the dispute in regard to
searching vessels for deserters. They went to
their cause by ministers plenipotentiary.
Senator Payne-Do you think that wc. as a
Nation, Suffered by that war7
Mr.. Hotbs-~I am not speaking OF that. All
nations snffer by war, but il could all have been
avoided if the matters of dispute had been sub
mitted TO arbitration.
To submit these questions to arbitration might
have avoided a great deal of war that has taken
place, and may take place, unless we provide Tor
peace in some rational manner. We are working
for that until the world can have universal
and - yfnU NJ nj
overtures of tho delegation of the Parliament OF
Great Britain that come with the memorial.
Z am very glad to see that David Dudley Field
and his friends had appeared before the House
and Senate suggesting joint resolution look-
ing to the very subject OF which am speaking.
You know David Dudley Field has been at work
for many years to formulate n reform system or
international law that will look for more pacific
means Of intercourse among nations, and think
his purpose Is what our memorial would look to-
The question Ia asked Of me, why should mem
bers Of the English Parliament seud delegates TO
America, or send heir memorial, and not the
great body Of the English people
Ten years ago / was In England whom the
wars with Afghanistsn and with South Africa
were going on, and never saw such feeling as
was cvinccd there In their public meetings by
tho masses--tbe manufacturers the tailoring
men, the middle classes who were the means
of turning away the war spirit OF England Mt
the time of our civil war In 1861 to 1860. You
know what an effort there made by John
Bright and Henry Richards backed by the great
masses. who are always the sufferers from war.
They are behind those 233 members OF ParliA-
msnt and that is the reason these deleea.ss
have como TO express the voice OF their repre-
sen tAti,ss. hope their voice will DO felt IN
the discussion OF this subject. Tho memorial 10
M follows.
TO the senate and nous. Of Representatives OF the
The memorial Of members of the Society Of Friends
ssstme a IN % ~ Man e. na the
That we have met In conference ne delegates from
tba IyiA Af An m wi ha
presence and coneurrence of delegates from England
and Ireland, 70 consider the great question OF peace
and goodwill among nations. The people OF the
world are now happily ieace with each other Lot
us seize this opportunity u prepare for perpetual
tho timo has for Christian nations TO heed the
message from heaven 20 the shepherds OF Judea on
towards men,"
We rejoice to observe that successive admins.
tratons during the last twenty years have been seek
ing introduce arbitration means of settling in
ternational disputes We fciay rejoice that dur.
mousy approved bill designed TO promote agree.
ment between all independent American nations to
We hail rs an evidence of advanced Christian civ.
ilizaton and OF true national fraternity the memorial
President by 233 members OF the British House Of
Commons. who pledge themselves 10 urge their gov
containing provisions by which any dispute which
may arise between the two nations shall be peaceably
Il 10 time that the two great Engsh.speaking ma.
lions, having the blood OF common ancestry and
Ghrtstlun1ty
to their nstitutona guarantee of civil liberty
united pledge of perpetual peace
the aforementioned memorial, and that President
may be authorized to ropose the to Queen of Great
brsion shall in future be nsed as the Of set
ting any disputes between the two countries which
cannot be adjusted eysdpisma'Es a Agency
up nations to honor Him, chastise them for dis
may give you wisdom s saa willingness t 70
great respect. your friends.
Signed behalf and by the authority of the afore
AUGUSTINE JONES, Chairman.
WM. 9. HUBBARD.
Timothy B. Hus.ey. for New England Ysasly Meet
Joseph SholI, for Philadelphia Yearly Meeting: Mary
W. Thomas. for Baltimore Yearly Meeting. Abigail
Edward g. Wood, for Ohio Yearly Meetings Daniel
Hill, for Indiana Yearly Meeting Barnsbas O. Hobos.
Iowa Yearly Meeting Washington Hadley, for Kansas
Yearly Meeting. supported by George Giilett, Of
Yearly Meeting; Samuel Rogers. of Canada Yearly
Meeting.
may add that the United States already has
such q treaty with Central America, and !
think there are other treaties between the re-
publics of South America and the same coun-
try. The United States has already had
eighteen arbitrations with other nations; more !
than any other nation in the world ENGLAND
has had twelve out of forty land see David
Dudley Field makes it s,xty) different arbitra-
tons THAT nave taken place, reaching CHINA ana
Japan and Persia ALI have submitted their
difficulties that could not be settled by diplo-
macy to arbitrators All through Europe met
with men VINO were looking in this direction.
In England and Ireland they were hoping that
America would inaugurate tho move now pro-
posed. They could not do ii. ANY European
nation with the great ornaments they have
would be accused OF weakness If it proposed
such measures. IL WAS proposed in the German
Relchsiag when 1 was there, but Bismarck
said: mo: it will Tot do. If you propose a re-
nf arr of ALI thau
will say Germany is getting weak" and they are
All IN that condition; but they say that IL Amer
lea does it they will all know that America does
not do 1t from cowardce or fear, but because it
is broad purpose, which the good sense of hui
manty will sustain.
Senator Payne Let me ask You if you have
any hope that the English government will ac-
cede TO any peace pol icy of this sortl