The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-18
HARRISON ON ARBITRATION.
The President Addresses the Methodist
Ecumenical Council.


Ecumenical Council.
WASHINGTON CITY, Oct 17.-Rev Dr. WILL
Jams, of the Methodist church of Canada, pre-
sided over the ecumenical council today. Hon.
Charles Foster, secretary of the treasury, made
a short address. The announcement by Bishop
Wayman, of the African NJ. E. church, that the
colored churches had decided unanimously in
favor OF organic union was received with ap-
plause.
The general topic today was "War and Peace "
The first essay, international Arbitration" was
read by ID. I. 7. Shape, of Liverpool. While
reading the address President Harrison and Sec
retary Noble entered the hall Everybody in
the church arose to their feet, and there was
burst of applause as the president assembled the
platform. He was presented to the chairman,
who, in turn, introduced him to the Assem- blage
Another burst of applause followed, and when it
had died away the president stepped forward
and said:
came here this morning to make an express
sion OF my respect and esseAm for this great
tries of the world; and much more, to give a
manifestation of my respect and love for that
greater body of Christian men and women for
whom you stand. [Applause.l Every eeumen-
ieal conference is a distinct step IL the direc-
ton not only of the uuification of the church,
but OF the unification OF humanity. 1t is the
natural order that the subdivisions should be
wiped out before the grand divisions of the
church can be united. You have today for dis
cussion the subject of international Arbitra-
ton" and, this being public and enlarged
use of the word, perhaps makes my pres
ence here as an officer of the United
States especially appropriate. ,tApplausel
attracted attention, and think NAV saw has
greatly attracted interest and adherence to
the United States as that OF any other Chris
tian power in the world. lApplause.l It is
known to you all that in the recent conference
of the American states at this city, the PROPOSE
tion was made and adopted by the adherents of
all, or nearly all of the governments repre-
sented, that as applied to this hemisphere all
international disputes should be settled by ar
bitration. (Applause.l OF course there are linn
itatons as yet. in the nature of things, to the
complete consummatlon and general adoption
of such a scheme.
1t is quite possible to apply arbitration to
boundary dispute. 1t Is quite impossible it
seems to me, to apply it to a case of interna.
tional feud There is at present a disposition to
subugate an aggressive spirit to seize territory
spirit OF national ACKNOWLEDGMENT that does
not stop to consider the rights of other men and
other people To such case and such a spirit
international arbitration has no, or If any. re-
mote and difficult application 1t is for a Chris
tian sentiment manifesting itself in the nation
TO remove forever such causes of dispute and
then what remains will be an easy subject of
adjustment by fair international arbitration
into discussion OF this great
theme, for the setting forth OF which
you have applied to those who have given il
special attention. Let me therefore saY simnIv
this for myself, temporarily in place Of intin.
ence in this country, and much more for the
great body OF its citizenship, to express the de-
sire OF America for peace with the whole world
tGreat applause.l 1t would have been vain TO
suggest the pulling down OF blockhouses or the
disarmament of settlers on the hostile Tndian
frontier. They would tell you rightly that the
it is probably true that full application OF this
principle is not presently possible The
devil still being unclaimed flaughtarl we
VIII still have our gun foundries.h and
probably will best promote the settlement of in
ternational disputes by arbitration by having
1t understood that II the appeal be to fiereer
tribunal we shall not be out of the debate IAN
plausel There is unity of the church and of
humanity, and the lines OF progress are the
same. II is by this great Christian sentiment,
characterized not only by high sense of ius.
tice, but bv spirit OF love and forbearanee
mastering civil institutions aud the government
OF the world, that we shall approach universal
peace and adopt arbitration methods of settIing
disputes. Let me thank you, Mr. Chsirmap
and you, gentlemen OF this conference for the
privilege OF standing before you for moment
and for this most cordial welcome you nave
given me. | beg to express again nv hioh an
probation of the character OF these delepstes
and of the membership of the great church
from which they come, and TO wish that in vonr
remaining deliberations and your journey to far
distant homes you may have the guidance and
care OF that God whom we all revere [Appause !
As the president concluded and passed ont of
the church the entire conference rose and an
plauded his remarks
"
few remarks. He was followed by Sir Jnlian
Pauncefote, who was presented, but made no
address
Mr.. Shape continuing his essay, spoke of the
growth OF the idea of international arbitration
IN the last decade and its Importance: made
reference to the declaration of the Pan-Ameri
can congress and the suggestion of that body.
through Secretary OF State Blaine, to the gov
ernments of Europe, advising that they should
enter into similar treaty. Switzerland. how
ever. is the only European power that has given
favorable reply. 1t is greatly to be re-
gretted that among the governments which
ignored the proposal is that OF Great Britain.
the more so because in the arbitration debate
in the commons in 1873 Premier Gladstone had
said Providence had endowed England and
America with increased advantages and facili-
ties for the propagation of the principle of ar
bitration. Mr. Shape dwelt on the enormous
tax necessitated by the tremendous armaments
OF Europe, and said the suffering inflicted upon
the body polite and the injury sustained by
morality and religion through war and its in
stitutions are enormous. In times OF actual
strife the church refuses to speak lest she
should offend her members who are supporters
of the government which is responsible for the
war. Prayers are uttered for the success
OF the respective comostants on whose
side they serve. such prayers, If genuinely