Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-04-06

ment Of Disputes Between Ma
tions-An influence Which May
Effect the Whole Of ChNstendom.
Baltimore. Nd. April 5.-Cardinal
Gibbons to-day gave out the following
appeal for arbitration instead of war,
signed by himself and Cardinal
Vaughan of Westminster, and Logue,
of Ireland. The document is the result
of a correspondence upon the subject
between Cardinal Gibbons and his col
leagues, whose names are affixed to
the appeal, and is issued on Easter Sun
day because of the appropriateness Of
the day. The appeal is as follows:
AN appeal by the American, Irish
and English Cardinals in behalf of a
permanent tribunal of arbitration:
We, the undersigned Cardinals, rep
resentatives of the Prince of Peace and
OF the Catholic Church in our respect
i've countries, invite all who hear our
voice to cooperate in the formation OF
public opinion; which shall demand
the establishment of
A PERMANENT TRIBUNAL
of arbitration. as a rational substitute
among the Englishspeaking races for
resort to the bloody arbitrament OF
war.
we are well aware that such a pro-
iect is beset with practical difficulties.
We believe that they will not prove to
be insuperable if the desire TO over
come them be general. Such court
existed for centuries, when the nations
of Christendom we're united in one
faith. And have we not seen nations
appeal to that same court for its ludg-
ment in our own day?
The establishment Of a permanent
tribunal composed, may be, OF trusted
representatives of each sovereign ma
ton. with power to nominate judges
and umpires according to the nature Oh
the differences that arise, and com
mon acceptance OF general principles
defining and limiting the jurisdiction
and subject matter of such a tribunal
would create new guarantees for peace
that could not fail TO influence the
whole of Christendom.
Such an international
COURT OF ARBITRATION
would form a second line of defence, to
he called into requisition only after
the ordinary resources of diplomacy
had been exhausted 1t would al least
postpone the outbreak of hOstilities un-
iii reason and common sense had form
ally pronounced their last word. This
is a matter of which the constitution
and procedure must be settled by gov
ernments.
But as governments are becoming
more and more identified with the as
pirations. and moulded by the desires,
of the people. an appeal in the first in
stance must be addressed to the people.
I'VE do not hesitate on our part to
lift IN our united voices that that is
sign of Divine influence at work in
their nEdst when nation shall not lift
up sword against nation, neither shall
they be exercised any more in war
0saiah 2:iv0: For it was written for
future time. Come We and behold the
work of the Lord, what wonders He
hath done upon the earth, making wars
10 cease even to the end of the earth
ops. 45ix).
Others may base their appeal upon
motives which touch
YOUR WORLDLY INTERESTS,
your prosperity, your worldwide in
fluence and authority in the affairs OF
men The Catholic Church recognizes
the legitimate force of such motives in
the natural order and blesses whatever
tends to the real progress and elevation
of the race. But our main ground Of
appeal rests upon the known character
and will of the Prince of Peace the liv-
ing Founder. the Divine head Of Chris
tendon. 1t was He who declared that
love for the Brotherhood is a second
commandment like unto the first. II
was He who announced TO the people
the praise and reward of those who
seek after peace and pursue it: blessed
said He. are the peacemakers, for they
shall be called the children OF God
Matt 5:iX)..
we, therefore, earnestly invite all
to unite with us in pressing their con-
victions and distress upon their re-
spective governments by means of peti-
tions and such other measures as are
constitutional.
(Signe6
James Cardinal Gibbons.
Archbishop OF Baltimore.
Michael Cardinal Logue.
Archbishop Of Armagh Primate Of All
ireland.
Herbert Cardinal Vaughan.
Archbishop of Westminster
London, Easter Sunday, 1896