The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-06
Three Catholic Cardinals
Offer a Plan.
Would Have a Permanent Tri-
bunal of Arbitration.
Such An Institution Would Avert ALI
the Horrors of War.


yesterday gave out the following appeal
for arbitration instead of war, signed by
himself and Cardinals Vaughan OF West
minister and Logue Of Ireland. The doc
ument Is the result of correspondents
upon the subject by Cardinal Gibbons and
his colleagues, whose names are affixed ia
the appeal, aud Is issued on Easter sun
day because OF tho appropriateness OF the
day. The appeal Is as follows;
An appeal by the American Irish and Eng
iish cardinals in behalf of permanent tribunal
of arbitration.
We, the undersigned cardinals, representa-
tives of the prince OF peace and of the Catholic
church in respective countries, invite all
who hear our voices to cooperate in the Tor
nation OF public opinion which shall demand
the establishment OF a permanent tribunal oi
arbitration, a rational substitute among
the English-spenking races for resort TO the
bloody arbitramont OF war.
We are well aware that such project Is be-
set with practical difficulties. We believe that
they will not prove 20 be insuperable II the
desire to overcome them be genuine and gem
eral. Such court existed for centuries when
the nations OF Christendom were united in one
faith And have we not seen nations appeal
TO that same court for its Judgment in our
own day?
u
composed Of trusted representatives OF each
sovereign nation, with power to nominate
judges and umpires according to the nature
of the differences that arise, and a common ac'
ceptance Of general principles defining and
limiting the jurisdiction and subject matter
of such a tribunal, would create new guaran.
tees for peace that could not fail to influence
the whole of Christendom.
Such an international court of arbitration
would form second line OF defense, TO be
called into requisition only after the ordinary
resources of diplomacy had been EXHAUSTED.
1t would at least postpone the outbreak Of hos
tilities until reason and common sense had
formally pronounced their last word This is
a matter of which the constitution and pro-
cedure must BE- settled by governments.
But as governments are becoming more and
more identified with tho aspirations and
moulded by the desires of the people, an ap-
peal in the first instance must be addressed to
the people.
We do not hesitate ON our part to lift up our
united voice and proclaim to all who
customed TO hearkcn TO our counsels that it Is
a sign OF divine influence at work In their
midst when Nation shall not lift up sword
against nation, neither shall they be exercised
any more in war" isaiah ii, s): for IL was
written of future time, "Come ye and be-
hold the work of the Lord, what wonders he
hath done upon the earth, making wars to
cease even To the end of the earth" Psalms
xiv, 81.
Others may base their appeal upon motives
which touch your worldly interests. your pros
perity. your worldwide influence and au-
thority in the affairs OF men. Tne Catholic
church recognizes the legitimate force of such
motives in the natural order and blesses what
ever tends to the real progress and elevation
of the race.
But our main ground of appeal rests upon
tho known character and will of the prince Of
peace, the living founder. the divine head Of
Christendom. II was he who declared that
love for the brotherhood is a second command
ment like unto the first. 1t was he who an.
nounced to the people the praise and reward
of those who seek after peace and pursue 1t.
blessed" said he, "are the peacemakers, for
they ssall be called the children of God"
(Matthew v, 81.
We, therefore, earn estly invite oil to unite
with Us in pressing their convictions and de-
sires upon their respective governments by
rleans of petitions and such other measures
rs are constitutional
JAMES CARDINAL GIDBoNs,
Archbishop of Baltimore.
MICHAEL CARDINAL LoGUE,
Archbishop OF Armagh,
Primate of all Ireland.
HERBERT CARDINAL VAUGHAN,
Archbishop of Westminster.
London, Easter Sunday, 1866.