The record-union., 1896-08-21

and the Committee on Interna-
tionaI Law Reports, Favoring a
Permanent System of Arbitration.
SARATOGA SPRINGS IN. W. Aug.
20-An epoch in the history of the
American Bar Association was marked
this morning by the fact that the an
nual oration was delivered by LORD
Russell of Killowen, Lord Chief JUS
tice of England. Convention Hall was
crowded to the doors long before the
hour appointed for the commencement
of proceedings, and on making his ap-
pearance the distinguished visitor was
accorded even a more hearty reception
than that which greeted him yesterday.
He was accompanied by Sir Frank
Lockwood. James Fox, Queens Coun-
sci, and Montague CrackanthOrpe,
Queens Counsel. Chief Justice Fuller
sat on the left of the chair, and in the
rear were number of the most dis
tinguished members of the American
bar The Lord Chief Justice took as
his subject international Law" and
for nearly two hours dilated upon the
settling disputes between nations, and
its special relation to the legal profess
sion. While a technical subject many
of his periods We're eloquently rounded
and ne was frequently interrupted by
applause He spoke in part as follows:
In 1890 the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States
adopted a concurrent resolution re-
ouesting the President to make use
of any fit occasion to enter into the
negotiation with other Governments to
the end that any differences or disputes
which could not be adjusted by diplo-
matte agency might be referred to arbi-
tration and peacefully adjusted by
such means. The British House of Com
mons in 1898 responded by passing
unanimously a resolution expressive of
the satisfaction it felt with the action
Of Congress and of the hope that the
Government of the Queen would lend
its ready cooperation to give effect to
il. The Parliament of Denmark and
Switzerland and the French Chamber
of Deputies have followed suit.
It seemed eminently desirable that
there should be an agency by which
members of the great representative
and executive bodies of the world in
terested in this far-reaching question
should meet on a common ground and
discuss the basis for common action.
With this object there has recently been
formed the Permanent Parliamentary
Committee in favor of arbitration and
peace" or, as it is sometimes called,
tie Inter-P Parliamentary Union" This
union has a permanent organization
its officers and members are not vain
0f Ia world
They do not claim to be .regenerators
of mankind. nor do they promise the
millennium, but they are doing honest
and useful work in making straighter
and less difficult the path of intelligent
progress.
Speaking in this place, I need only
refer, in passing, to the remarkable
Pan-American Congress, held in your
States in 1890, at the instance of the
late Mr. Blaine, directed to the same
peaceful object.
1t is obvious, therefore. that the SEN
timent for peaceand in favor Of arbitra
tiCn as an alternative for war, is grow
ing apace How has that sentiment told
on the direct action Of nations? How
tar have they shaped their policy ac-
cording to its methodist The answer to
these questions are so peaceful and en-
couraging Experience has shown that
over a large area, international differ
ences may honorably, practically and
usefully be dealt with by peaceful arbi-
trament. There have been since 1873
some sixty instances of effective inter
national arbitration. Thirty-two of
these the United States has been a
party TO and Great Britain to soma
twenty Of them.
There are many instances also Of the
introduction of arbitration into trea-
ties Here again the United States ap-
pears in the van but are we therefore 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
subsided? I am not sanguine enough
TO lay this lattering JUNCTION TO my
soul. Unbridled ambition, thirst for
wide domain. pride OF power still hold
sway, although with lessened force and
in some degree under the restraint Of
the healthier opinion Of the world. But
further, friend as I am of peace I would
yet affirm that there may be even
great ter calamities than war-the dis
honor of a nation. the triumph of an
unrighteous cause. the perpetuation OF
hopeless and debasing tyranny 1t be-
hOoves them all who are friends OF
peace and advocates of arbitration to
recognize the difficulties of the question,
to examine and meet these difficulties
and to discriminate between the cases
in which friendly arbitration is and in
which it may not be practically possi-
BILE
Arbitration viii not cover the whole
field of international controversy. and
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 justice. The scheme
of such a combination has been advo-
Gated, but the signs of its accomplish
ment are absent. / doubt whether in
any case a permanent tribunal, the
members of which shall be priorly des-
ignated. is practical or desirable. Ii
the first place, the character Of the best
tribunal must largely depend on what
is to be arbitrated.
The interests involved are commonly
so enormous and the forces of nationa
sympathy, pride and prejudice are ss