Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-01-15
INTERNATIONAL COURT OF ARBITRATION.
All Differences Should be Settled by
Reason,

AAO0oVus
It has always seemed strange to us
that reasonable beings should settle
their differences, like the brutes of the
field and wild animals Of the forest, by
an appeal to force instead of to reason.
In such cases, the last appeal of ration
al beings is no higher than that of
brutes. Why should intelligent beings,
endowed with reason, abandon it, when
it's judicious exercise is most needed !?
Might is not right, and no principle is
determined by it's exercise. Force is as
likely to triumph in the wrong as in
the right. All difficulties between ma
tions should be determined by suita
BILE court of arbitration. In large
majority of such difficulties, if not in
all, it would be better, even for the
country that loses in the arbitration,
than to go to war, in which the party
in the right is as likely to lose as to
win, after losing thousands OF lives and
millions upon millions of money. That
Christians should favor war as means
of settling international disputes is to
us inexplicable. What does it profit
a man to gain the aohole sOorld and lose
his own soul?" The Christian believes,
at least abstractly, If not concretely,
that the souls of all unregenerate men
who die in that state are lost to all
eternity, and yet he is willing to "cry
havocl and let slip the dogs of war"
on the slightest pretext. and consign
the souls of his brother men to eternal
punishment. How can he do it, il he
believes what he processes? We sup
pose this is a view which he has never
considered, and yet it is one which is
more important than any other, and
should be the first with every one who
processes the Christian faith.
Public sentiment on both sides of the
ocean is beginning to move in the right
Merchandising to arbitration as the
proper mode of settling all interna-
tional differences. As the New York
Herald says, 1.-The reported move in
London to bring about the formation
of a permanent court of international
arbitration, as proposed by Justice
Harlan. is but another proof Of the
progress arbitration is making.
Justice Harlan's proposition was to
have a tribunal composed of justices of
the highest court of England and of
the Supreme Court of the United States
for the settlement of international dis
putes. That would seem to be feasible,
but whatever may be the precise form
or process of international arbitration
it is not to be denied that the adoption
of the principle is most desirable end.
Both England and the United States
have declared in favor of it, and the
French Chamber of Deputies last sum-
mer recommended the government to
negotiate a treaty for that purpose
with the United States.
With an arbitration treaty in force |
between two nations. or an arbitration
tribunal established by them, there |
would be no danger of war between
them and no mischief caused by war
scares or lingo ontbl eaks. The sooner
that time comes the better it will be
for the peace of the world"
It will be remembered that short
time ago Miss Consuello Vanderbilt. /
daughter of Mr.. William K. Wander:
bilt, was married to the Duke of MARI
borough. 1t will be further remem
bered that same time previous to this
marriage, her parents, Mr.. and Mrs.
w. X. Vanderbilt. were divorced.
Now it is announced that the divorced
Mrs. Vanderbilt is to marry Oliver H.
P. Belmont on the 2Sth Of this month.
In the same papers we notice that
Mrs. Corbett, the divorced wife of
James j. Corbett, the pugilist, has
married young New York million
aire. These are New York Society
events.