Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-20

bodies.
1t is obvious. therefore, that the senti-
nent for peace and In favor OF arbitration
1 as the alternative for war Is growing
apace. How has that sentiment told on
the direct action Of nations? How far
| have they shaped their policy according
| to its methods? The answers to these
questions are also hopeful and encourag-
ing.
Arbitration.
Experience has shown that, over a large
area, international differences may honor
ably. practically and usefully be dealt with
by peaceful arbitrament. There have been
since 1915 some sixty instances of effective
international arbitration. To thirty-two of
| these the United States have been a party
and Great Britain to some twenty of them.
There are many instances also Of the in
| PRODUCTION of arbitration clauses into
treaties Here again the United States APP
pear In the van.
But are we thence to conclude that the
millennium of peace has arrived-that the
| dove has returned to the ark. sure sign
that the waters of international strife have
permanently subsidized?
l am not sanguine enough to lay this fiat
terlng JUNCTION to my soul. Unbridled am
bition-thirst for wide dominion-pride of
power still hold sway. although 1 believe
with les5ened force and in some sort under
| the restraint of the healthier opinion of the
world.
Friend of Peace.
But further. friend as 1 am of peace, 1
would yet affirm that there may be even
greater calamities than war-the dishonor
or a nation. the triumph of an unrighteous
cause, the perpetuation of hopeless and de-
| basing tyranny
1t behooves then all who are friends Of
peace and advocates of arbitration to recoe-
| nize the difficulties Of the question. to ex-
anime and meet these difficulties and to
discriminate between the cases in which
friendly arbitration Is. and in which it may
not be, practically. possible.
Pursuing this line of thought, the short
ccmings of international law reveal them
selves to us and demonstrate the grave diff
fculties of the position.
The analogy between arbitration as to
matters In difference between individuals,
and to matters in difference between ma
tons. carries us but short way.
But there are differences to which, even
| as between individuals, arbitration is inap-
plicable- subjects which find their counter
part in the affairs of nations. Men do not
arbftrate where character is at stake. nor
VIII any self-respecting nation readily ar
bitrate on questions touching its national
| Independence or affecting its honor.
Difficulties in the Way.
Again, nation may agree to arbitrate
| and then reprdiate its agreement Who is
| to coerce it? Or, having gone to arbitra-
| ton and been worsted. it may decline to be
These considerations seem to me to jus
| tify two conclusions: The first is that arbi-
| tration will not cover the whole field of in
| ternational controversy, and the second
! that unless and until the great powers OF
| the world, in league, bind themselves to
coerce a recalcitrant member of the family
| of nations-we have still to face the more
| than possible disregard by powerful states
of the obligations of good faith and of JUS
| tice. The scheme of such a combination
| haan ar tod h,rt tha Sic nPit
complshment are absent. We have as YET
| no league of nations of the Amphictyonic
| type.
| Are We then to conclude that force is
still the OILY power that rules the world
| Must we then say that the sphere of arbi-
tration is a narrow and contracted one?
Public Opinion n Factor.
| BY no means. The sanctions which re-
| strain the wrongdoer-the breaker of pub
| lie faith-the disturber of the peace of the
| world-are not v eak. and year by year they
| wax stronger. They are the dread of wal
| and the reprobation of mankind Public
| opinion IS a force which makes itself fel,
| In every corner and Granny of the world
and is most powerful in the communities
most civilized. In the public press and in
| the telegraph it possesses agents by which
its power is concentrated and speedily
! brought to bear where there Is any public
| wrong to be exposed and reprobated. Il
|
| enlightenment extends its empire and
| higher moral altitude is attained by man
| kind 1t has no ships-of-war upon the seas
| or armies in the field, and yet great poten.
| tates tremble before it and humbly bow to
| its rule.
| Again, trade and travel are great pacifi.
! Gators. The more nations know Of one an
| other. the more trade relations are estaf-
| hshed between them. the more good will
| and mutual interest grow up; and these
| are powerful agents working for peace.
A Permanent Tribunal
! 1t may be enough to say. that, at this
| stage, the question of the constitution of
| a permanent tribunal is not ripe for prac-
| teal discussion, nor will 1t be until the ma
jority of the great powers have given in
| their adhesion to the principle. But what
ever may he said for veSting the authority
| In such powers to select arbitrators from
| time to time as occasion may arise
doubt whether in any case a permanent
| tribunal. the members Of which shall he
priori designated, is practicable or de-
sirable. In the first place the character of
| the best tribunal must largely depend upon
| the question to be arbitrated. But apart
| from this, ] gravely doubt the wisdom of
| giving that character of permanence to
| the personnel of any such tribunal
Ihere IS danger. too to be guarded
against from another quarter. So long as
war remains the sole court wherein to try
| international quar- els. the risks of failure
| are SO tremendous and, the mere rumor of
war so paralyzes commercial and indust trial
! life, that pretenSionS wholly unfounde.l
| will rarely be advanced by any nation,
and the strenuous efforts OF statesmen,
whether Immediately concerned or not, will
be directed to prevent war.
Court of Nations.
But if there be a standing court of ma
| tons to which any power may resort with
little cost and no risk. the temptation may
be strong to put forward pretentious and
unfounded claims, in support of which
| there may readily be found. in most coun-
tries (can we except even Great Britain
and the United States?) busybody jingoes
| only too ready to air their spurious and in
HANNA tory patriotism.
There is one influence which by the law
OF nations may be legitimately exercised
by the powers in the interests of peace-I
mean mediation. This is power often
used. perhaps not so often as it ought to
be-and with good results.
1t Is obvious that it requires tact and
Judgment as to mode. time and crcum-
stance, and that the task can be under
| taken hopefully only where the mediator
possesses great moral influence and where
he is beyond the suspicion of any motive
except desire for peace and the public
good.
A Note of Caution.
In dealing with the subject of arbitration
I rohf to