Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-07
Does Might Make Right

Lord Lylton, in a recent address at Glasgow,
contended that the principles of morality have
no control in the intercourse of nations, either
de facto or de jure-by right or in fact.
As to the fact, 1t may be conceded that too
often they have not. As to the right our late
Minister to the Court of st. James, the Hon.
Edward ]. Phelps, in his Phi Beta Kappa ora
tion at Harvard University on the 9th of June,
utters some trenchant sentences which are in
the nature of moral dynamite, blowing Lord
Lylton and his theory sky high. After stating
the Englishman's position, he said:
"These propositions appear to me to be not
only erroneous in theory but destructive to the
peace of the world if they should be generally
adopted. They result in the very state Of
things it is the object of all law to prevent
the supremacy of physical strength and
the doctrine that might makes right
ever be established in the only way interna-
tioual rules can be-by the general assent of
civilized nations. That history discloses In the
true enough, but that does not diminish lis
obligations. As well might it be argued
against the enforcement of the criminal law
that crime has always been common, In short,
the difference between the moral rights and
duties Of nations, and those of individuals is
only in degree and not in kind. 1t may be
declared as the fundamental principle in all
law that finds assent and support among the
race to which we belong thai 1t Is based upon
and exists for the principal purpose of applying
to the coursesof personal and national conduct
the acknowledged principles of moral justice,
so far as through general rules and established
methods of procedure they can be made prac-
tically effectuaL"
At the same time the ex-minister does not be-
lieve IN reliance on moral force alone, He con-
tends that naval strength has become at this
day the right arm of diplomacy, and the most
important element in critical foreign relations
moral power is an excellent thing. 1t is best
to be right, and in the long run II Is necessary
to be right however powerful you may lie. But
there are times when it is of small avail to be
rsrr,t 80 ikaxV ViQa irnr rtnrl1N
arm without brains or conscience is never a de-
sirable force, but brains and conscience with
out right arm are not always etfectual ones.
l would propose, therefore, as one of the first
steps towoids such an international attitude as
u seems to me our country should assume-and
having assumed, maintain-that naval
force should be created that should leave us
nothing to fear from collisions with any other
naval power in the world"
Mr.. Phelps dismisses those "humanitarians
of excellent motives" who believe that uni
versal arbitration can be substituted for war,
by saying that it appears TO him altogether
chimerical that arbitration can ever be made
the ultimate resort Of nations in those more
important quarrels that involve questions of
principle or of honor, or that have stirred the
blood and moved the passions Of men. Wars
do not take place like murders, by malice
aforethought; they are not arranged before
hand like matches at chess. They cUme when
combustible materials have been allowed to
accumulate and irritated feelings TO grow;
when match carelessly dropped, perhaps by
an insignificant hand at an unexpected mo-
ment, starts flame that the high winds of pub
lie sentiment drive into a conhagratiOn."
From the days when Edward Everett leaped
into fame by his apostrophe to Lafayette in
lS24 down to the equally celebrated philippe
of Wendell Phillips in 1888. the Harvard Phi
Beta Kappa oration has been the event Of the
year. Mr.. Phelps has increased the prestige of
the occasion and uttered an oration certain to
awaken ecnoes on two continents
Gems by Ancient and Modern Philosophers.
No righteous man deserts this life before
another equally righteous one is born
Tutn1ud.
1T is Of the nature of animals rather than Of
men to give themselves up to the present per.
sonifed.-Schopenh
BEHOLD thy trophies within thee, without
thee. Lead thine own captivity captive, and be
Caesar unto thyself.-Str Thomas Br0t0n.
SCIENCE discloses the method Of the world
but not its cause; religion uiscloses the cause
of the world but not its method. There is no
conflict between them except when either for
gets its ignorance of what the other alone can
know.-Martfnedu
BIZ the manner Of his entrance into this
world, Christ hath digni6ed the estate Of
infancy, and hAllowed the bold which binds
we say has been halowed-has not the cradle
also-by Christs having lain in itf-Hdnnd.
THE only cure for Incidence Is work; the
only, cure for selhshness Is sacrifice; the only
cure for unbelief is to shake of the ague of
doubt BY doing Christ's bidding; the only cure
for timidity is to plunge into some dreaded
duty before the chill comes on.-Rutheryord.
cEErAmLrit is the duty Of the strong to