The San Francisco call., 1896-03-27
Business Men Declare in Favor
of Peace Between the
Nations.
PATRIOTISM WAS NOT IN IT.
Eloquent Addresses Delivered Against
the Arbitrament of War Be.
tween Nations.

TO discuss the question of International
arbitration. There was a fair attendance
of prominent men. Hugh Craig presided,
and in calling the meeting to order ex-
plained that it had been called in response
to a request from the New York committee
on arbitration.
Secretary Merry read the letter. which
asked the San Francisco Chamber of Com
merce to meet and discuss the question in
the interest of peace among nations.
The chairman delivered an address, in
which be said:
Any one familiar with the history of the
Anglo-SaXon people, who remembers the
strains which are blended in our race, need
hardly be reminded that the fighting blood is
not monopolized by any particular section of
it. Lexington and Bunker Hill, Fort McHenry
and New Orleans Donelson and ViekSburg
are warranty that the race has not degen-
Grated in its march westward and is AYE
ready at the call OF duty and country ito do
or die"
The grit of Marlborough and Wellington is
reproduced in Grant and Lee, Sherman and
Jackson.
The craftsmanship of Cromwell and Pitt is
equaled by that OF Washington and Lincoln.
Notwithstanding his mighty victories on the
field General Grant abhorred war, and con-
ceived his greatest success to have been the
accomplishment OF the Geneva arbitration
committee.
The tender heart of Abraham Lincoln was
strained 10 the breaking at the suffering and
destruction OF life by war.
A well-known specialist has recently pub
lished facts and figures claiming that the
American Nation in weslth-producing power
exceeds that of three of the grea test nations of
Europe, with their populations OF 127 ,000, ,00O
What the future may have in store as the des-
tiny of our race can only lie con jectured.
But the man who raises his voice to incite
war and create irritation between these l2O,-
100000 of our own race ''let his name be
cO - DUpiS n tba
crime.
Certainly there can be no danger of our mo-
tives being misconstrued if, as nation, we
take the initiative in this movement for arbi-
tration- The very fact that the people of our
country, outside OF the professional politicians
are demanding the appointment OF commit
tee OF arbitration, to which shall be referred
for investigation and adjustment all and every
question now pending or that may hereafter
arise between the British Government and the
Government OF the United States marks an
epoch in the ciyiliZa ton OF the century
Should Providence thus inspire our good
President, that during the life of her Most
Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria, the objects
OF thlS meeting snail be accom- plished; shall
the scribe who records the marvellous story OF
her reign not write it as the Golden kge ?'
Mr. Craig said he regretted exceedingly
that three gentlemen who were to have
spoken could not be present. He intro
duced DR.. Horatio Stebbins, who began by
stating his view of the call was for a move
meut that would call for an international
conference that would establish high
court of arbitration between England and
America. This, he held, was the import
of the meeting and also to chronicle and
publish the expressions uttered at it as
part of the expression of public opinion
in America upon the question of arb, ira
ton.
DR.. Stebbins spoke in favor of arbitra-
tion and against force of arms. Arbitra-
tiOn was, he declared, the subiimest idea
of humanity. In it men allowed them
teIves to be governed by an idea Inter
national law was a new thought The
application of arbitration was the unfoli-
ing and expanding of international law
under n state of public opinion sufficiently
powerful to enforce itself. As be looked
round him, the speaker recognized in the
chair something OF the temperament of
the Scotchman, he believed there was
some with the proud blood of the Hohen-
ZOllern in them, Others who once owed
fealty to the lily of France, and more than
likely some one VINO had gwen allegiance
to the mighty Car. And vet it was no
place to make distinctions; they were all
American citizens. Engljsbmen and
Americans were of one blood, divided only
BY distance. These considerations were
worthy of all.
The secretary read the following letter
from Archbishop Riordan:
Hugh Craig-DEAB SIR: 1t will be impossible
for me to attend the meeting in the Chamber
of Commerce on Thursday. ! am, however in
complete accord with the object of the meet
ing ana you may append my name to the pc
titiOn asking for the establishment of a Ma
uonaI Board OF Arbitration. Sincerely yours,
7. W. RIORDAN.
A communication from Chief Justice
Beatty of the Supreme Court contained
the following:
Hugh Craig, President, and William Merru,
Secretary Chamber Of Commerce GENTLEMEN:
regret that a previous and imperative engage
ment Will prevent me from attending your
meeting on Thursday. l desire, however, in
excusing my absence, TO express my hearty
sympathy with all efforts in the direction OF
international arbitration. Whether it is prac-
ucable 10 secure general agreement OF the
clvlllzeo powers to any plan for the settlement
OF international differences may be doubtful
but the OBJECT Is at least worth striving for,
and the establishment OF a permanent board
of arbitration to decide all controversies be-
tween Great Britain and the United States
would, In my opinion, be long step toward
Its attainment, and would be of in calculable
advantage, not only to the countries inmedi-
ately concerned, but to the world at large.
believe also that the plan Is, 10 that extent,
entirely practicable. Once let it become mani.
fest that not only Observation-Disclosures
but the great body of men representing the
business and commercial interests Of the two
cOunt tries are seriously and earnestly in favor
of the principle of arbitration it cannot he
doubted that the statesmen at the head OF the
respective Governments will be found able and
willing to devise plan for putting it into
operation. And let q permanent tribunal of
arbitration once be established, all the more
serious obstacles TO friendly and satisfactory
adjustment of future controversies are swent
away. For it is not the difficulty of discover
ing fair terms OF agreement in SUCH cases that
jmpedes q settlement so much as the more
serious difficulty of making just agreement
acceptable to the people represented by the
neQOtlafOrg.
Other letters in the same strain from
Irving M. Scott, Judge John CARRIER, John
J. Valentine and Rev. Robert Mackenzie
were read and met with the hearty an
proval of the meeting.
Captain Meyer said he was decidedly in
favor of peaceful methods Of arbitration.
holding that what obtained in small COM
munitles should exist among nations. If
anything could be found to abolish war
with honor to both sides it should be
adopted Peace was so much better than
war every intelligent man to-day should
favor arbitration. Captain Meyer, there
fore, decided be would very gladly support
a motion for universal arbitration.
Robert NJ. Forman, resident partner of
BaIfour, Guthrie & Co., said it would be
disgraceful at this age it a serious difficulty
should arise between England and Amer
lea. He said he had lived in both coun-
tries. and while in either one he always
felt he was dwelling among his own peo
l. r. Il 4