The herald., 1896-09-07
CHAMPIONING INTERNATIONAL
ARBITRATION

The expressions of two conspicuous and
influential Englishmen-Lord Chief
Jusice Russell and John Morley-regard-
ing the desirability and probability of
international arbitration are exciting
widespread attention and, deservingly,
general commendation. The opinions of
the lord chief Justice on this humane
and sensible method Of conserving inter-
national tranquility were exploited In
his recent address before the American
Bar associa ton at the latter's meeting
in Saratoga and those of Mr.. Morley
found their way to the public mind
through the pages Of the Nineteenth
Century" for last month. The ad-
dress of Lord Russell will rightly rank
as the most important public utterance
of the year among English speaking peo-
ple, while the article of Mr.. Morley.
which also treats of the settlement of
the Venezuelan question by arbitration,
is of consequential significance from the
fact that the author is an astute and in
dependent publicist whose views are
representative of the average thought
of the British people.
Both Englishmen place themselves
bitration and the effect of their advo-
cacy is certain to be found in still more
friendly feeling among Englishmen for
that mode of adjusting the differences
between governments. Lord RusselPs
address was permeated by an admira-
BILE spirit, the spirit of humanity and toll
erance, and those who peruse his effort
WILL find liberal education in the be.
ginning and development Of the move
ment for displacing the field of Mars
with a court of reason. None Of the su-
perciliousness or national egotism SO
frequently ascribed to Englishmen is
discernible in his remarks. 1t may be
truly said that in the same compass no
abler no more broadly philosophical
plea, for the cause has ever been pre-
sented To this country he gave credit
without stint for what it has done in the
promotion of arbitration, mentioning
fact probably little known to the average
citizen, that we have been engaged in
thirty-two out Of the sixty successful
cases. of arbitration since the war of
1872. Most readers of this notable ad-
dress will likely conclude that the finest
Of its many expressions is that In which
he gives his conception of civilization:
ut is not dominion, wealth, material
luxury; nay, not even great literature
and education widespread-good though
these things be. Its true signs are
thought for the poor and suffering, chiv
alrous regard and respect for woman,
the frank recognition of human brother
hood, irrespective of race or color or ma
ton or religion, the narrowing Of the
domain of mere force as a governing
factor in the world, the love Of ordered
freedom, abhorrence of what Is mean
and cruel and vile, ceaseless devotion
to the claims Of Justice" OF course he
deprecated with emphasis the thought
Of physical conflict between this country
and his own.
The active interest in behalf Of arbi-
tration of two such distinguished men
of Great Britain as Lord Russell and
Mr.. Morley is not only we'll for the cause
generally, but should help in making it
easy for Lord Salisbury to agree to ter
inmate the Venezuelan dispute in the
fashion suggested by this government
Mr.. Morley's paper was indeed called
out by Lord Salisbury's expressed de-
sire for comment and advice regarding
the status of the matter as developed by
the diplomatic correspondence up to