The Progress., 1888-10-13
BETTER THAN WAR.

4 y II s5
BETTER THAN WAR.
The Settlement Of Intsrnasional Conpli.
s. eat.ons BY Courts OF Arbitration.
a delegation OF prominent English.
mon, representing two hundred and
thirty-hve members Of the House Of
Commons. has recently visited this
country on an orrand Of peace. Among
the delegates were several members 81
Parliament, and at their head was Sir
Lyon Playfair, who has several times
sat in the English Ministry.
This delegation waited upon the
President ut Washington, and present
ed to him memorial in favor Of ..ar.
bitration in political differences, when
diplomatic agency has failed to settle
such differences. = Sir Lyon Playfair
ru1nurked that tht rfmes ssre fayorMble
I tosuch a course, since s.the whole world
is startled at the new aspect OF war,
whleh the progress Of science is making
q huge engine for the butchery of men
and the wanton waste Of property =
He added, the startling fact, that during
the last ten years the cost OF maintain.
ing Europeon armies has increased at
least twenty-five per cent.
The President responded In sympa-
thetic manner, and expressed the hope
that arbitration might one day be
generally adopted.
It is fitting that such subject should
be taken up by the two great Anglo.
Saxon powers, aud that an effort should
be made BY enlightened nations te
devise q peaceful method Of settling
the disputes which are constantly aris.
ing between formidable powers.
The most striking example ever sci
In this direction was that Of the United
States and England, when they agreed
that the claims for the deprelations o,
the privateer Alabama and other Con.
federate cruisers should be submitted
to q court OF arbitration, with author.
ity not merely to determine how much
was due to this country by Great Brit
ain, but to decide il any thing was due.
Thus it was commissioned to sit ir
Judgment upon the conduct Of a proud
and independent government. That
subject had long threatened to bring
about a war between the two countries;
but when the arbitration was agreed to.
and the court at Geneva adjudged that
England should pay the United States
fifteen and one half millions Of dollars
for the damage done by the Alabama
and other vessels, the decision was
promptly acquiesced in, and the money
was paid over without murnur.
One.of the great obstacles In tho way
Of the adoption OF arbitration for tho
settlement Of international quarrels is,
that no nation is willing to submit .
question in which its "honor" is con.
cerned to such court. It Is still tho
prevailing doctrine, that II q nation
has been "insultedn by another, the
shedding Of blood can alone preserve
its honor. It is to a large degree owing
to this feeling that oil Europe Is to.
day burdened with enormous mill.
tary armaments, and that treasures
and the pockets Of the people are being
drained to support them.
One strong argument, however. in
favor Of arbitration is, that wars yery
rarely settle the disputes which have
provoked them. Thousands of mon
are slaughtered; millions Of money arc
squandered; territories are desolated:
industries are ruined; and vet at the
end Of it all, the seed Of future quar-.
rels and future wars remain. Two
hundred years ago, French king
seized and added a German province
to his realm. The Germans were not.
however, made content to lose II by
defeat; and In 1870, they rose up md
took the province back by force. With
and are at this day watching their Oh.