The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-04-08
Appeal for Arbitration.
American. English and Irish
Cardinals Issue an Address.

Baltimore, April 4.-Hls emlnence
Cardiusr Gibbons has made public an
appeal signed by the American, Irish
aud Euglish cardinals iu -behelf of a
permanent tribunal of arbitration with
the view Of creating new guarantees for
peace throughout the world as 8 substi'
tute for war.
The appeal is the result of a joint
conference 10 which Cardinal Gibbons,
Cardinal Logue aud Cardinal Vaughan
have for quite some time been engaged.
The conclusions arrived at by their
emiuences are as follows:
We, the Undersigned cardinals, rep
resentatives of the Prince of Peace and
the Catholic church iu our respective
countries, invite all who bear our
voices to cooperate in the formation of
public opinion, which shall demand
the establish nent of a permanent tribu-
nal of arbitration. as rational substl-
tute among the Euglish-speakiDg races
for resort to the bloody arbitrament
Of war.
We are we'll aware that such pro-
iect is beset with practical difficulties
| We believe that they will DOT prove to
be iusuperable if the desire to over
come them be genuine and general.
Such court existed for centuries whsn
the nations of Christendom we're united
in one faith. Aud have we DOT seen
! nations appeal to that same court for its
Judgment in our day !?
Tie establishment of permanent
tribunal, composed. it may be. Of trust
ed representatives of each sovereign
uatioo, With power to nominate judges
and uupires according to the nature of
the differences that arise, and COM
mon acceptance of general principles
defining and limiting the jurisdiction
ard subject matter of suco tribunal.
would create new guarantees for peace
that could oct fail to influence the whole
of Christendom.
Such an international court of arbi.
tras;on would form secoud line OF de-
feose to be called iuto reQuisition only
after the ordinary resources of diplo'
macy bad been exhausted 1t would at
least postpone the outbreak of hostlllnes
uotii reason aud commen sense had
formally pronounced their last word
This ie i. matter Of which the coDsti-
tuition and procedure must be settled by
the government. But as governments
are becoming more and more identified
with the aspirations. and moulded by
the desires of the people, au appeal in
the first instance must be addressed to
the people.
We do not hesitate on our part to lift
up our upited voices and proclaim to
all wbo are accustomed to barkeu to our
couusels, that it is sigu Of divine in
fuence at work 10 their midst when
"oation shall not lift up sword against
patton, neither shall they be exercised
any more in war;" Is;ah ii, 4 For
it was written of future. Come ye
and behold the work Of the Lord. what
He hath done upon the earth, making
war 20 cease even to the end Of the
earth" Psalms As, 9)
Others may base their appeal upon
motives which touch your worldly in-
terests, your prosperity, your world
wide influence and authority in the af-
fairs Of men. The Catholic church re.
cognizes the legitimate force of such
motives 10 the natural order and blesses
whatever tends to the real progress and
elevation OF. the race. But our ground
of appeal rests upon the well-known
character aud will of the Prince Of
Peace, the living founder, tie divine
head Of Christendom. 1t was He who
declared that love for the brotherhood
is a second commandment like unto the
first. 1t was He who announced to the
people the praise and reward Of those
who seek after peace and pursue it:
BLESSED" said He, care the peace
makers, for they shall be called the
children of God" (Mattbew Y, 81
We, therefore. earnestly invite all to
unite with US in pressing their convic-
tions and desires upon their respective
governments By means of petitions and
such of their measures as are cousti
tutional.
James. Cardinal Gibbons.
Archbishop of Baltimore.
Michael, Cardinal Logue,
Archbishop Of Armagh. Primate of all
Ireland
Herbert. Cardinal Vaughan,
Archbishop of Westminster.
Easter Sunday, 1896.
GETTING EVEN.