The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-08-21
RUSSELL SPEAKS
DELIVERS AN ADDRESS BEFORE III
AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION.
HIS views ON the Modern fcndeneSSs
of International Law and the
Arbitration Question.

SARATOGA. ~. Y. Aug 20.-over 400
people assembled in Convention Hall to-
day 10 listen TO the address Of Lord Rus
sell OF Killowen. Lord Chief Justice of
England. on international Law" before
the American Bar Association 1t was one
OF the most distinguished audiences that
ever gathered here. When Lord Russell
entered the hall ne was greeted with
hearty applause and as he ascended the
platform the ovation increased and was
more demonstrative. Besides Lord Russell
there were grouped on the platform United
States Judge Rufus w. Peckham. United
States ttorney-gener Harmon, New
York Court of Appeals Judge Bartlett,
Hon. Cortlandt T. Parker. of New Jersey;
United States District Court Judge Cox;
Hon. ]. Randolph Tucker, of Virginia;
Hon. Henry Hitchcock. of St. Louis; Hon.
William Allen Butler, of New York; Hon.
Edward J. Phelps. OF Vermont: Hon.
James c. Carter, OF New York; Hon.
Nathan l.. Shipman, of Connecticut;
Bishop John p. Newman, Sir Francis
Lockwood and Montague C~rackenthorpe
The president of the association. Moore
field Storey, Of Boston, on presenting LORD
Russell said: II have now the very great
pleasure. not OF introducing. for he needs
no introduction to any English-speaking
lawyer. but of presepting to you Lord Rus,
England. who will deliver the anhuai au,
dress on the subject OF international
Law
Lord Russell prefaced his words by a
modest but handsome acknowledgement or
the loving and hearty welcome with which
he was honored on this occasion HIS al,
dress was of great length and discussed
the sources of international law, the eth
zeal standard to which IL ought to con-
form the characteristics OF It's modern
tendencies and developments and some
needful words on the question. lately so
much discussed. of international arbitra-
ton" In considering what characterizes
the later tendencies of international law,
humanity. When Menelek. Emperor of
Abyssinia, was recently reported to have
cut of the right arms and feet Of 500 pris-
oners the civilized world felt a thrill of
horror Yet the time was when to treat
prisoners as slaves and permanently TO
aisable them from again bearing arms
oelligerent capture. Such acts would once
have excited no more Indignation than did
before the days of Clarkson and Wilber-
force. Let US hope that II Is no longer pos
s ta9ie 90 of 40 the he fSIaS Oh in d. a as he
threatened TO do. break down the dykes
and overwhelm with disaster the low coun-
Napoleon would dare TO decree as the first
Napoleon did in his famous or infamous
PaDllC O-AhAOh Ao ~ oA0 - h0c
reached a higher moral plane.
EVILS OF WAR MITIGATED.
"A bare recital of some of the important
respects in which the evils of war have
been mitigated by more humane customs
must suffice. Among them are Q) the great
er immunity from attack Of the persons
and property of enemy subjects in a hostile.
country; 90 the restrictions imposed on
the active operations of a belligerent when
occupying an enemy's country; CD the rec
ognized distinction between subjects of the
enemy: combatant and noncombatant; O
the Difference accorded to ~cartels, safe con-
ducts and flag of truce; 60 the protection
secured for ambulances and hospitals and
for all engaged in tending the sick and
wounded-of which the Geneva Red Cross
convention of 1864 is a notable illustrations;
(0 the condemnation of the use or instru-
ments OF warfare which cause needless
I'm this field of humane work the United
States took a prominent part. When the
civil war broke out President Lincoln was
prompt In intrusting to Prof. Franz Lieber
the duty OF preparing a manual OF system
affixed rules for the conduct of forces in the
field-rules aimed at the prevention of
those scenes Of cruelty and rapine which
were ormerly a disgrace 20 humanity.
That manual has. / believe. been utilized
by the governments OF England, France
and Germany.
wrought in the position of neutrals i'm war
times. who. while bound BY strict obliga-
tions OF neutrality are In great measure
peaceful trade; But in spite of all this.
who can say that these times breathe the
air. Nations armed to the teeth pirate of
peace. but there Is no sense of pea:e. One
sovereign burdens the industry OF his peo-
pie TO maintain military and naval arma-
ment at war strength. and his neighbor
does the like and ~justifles IL by the example
OF the other; and England' insuIar though cs
tered the world over. follows. or is forced
to follow. in the wake. If there be no war
there Is at best an armed peace. Figures
are appalling. / take those for 1895. In
Austria the annual cost OF army and navy
was. In round figures. G1s.0Oo.D0 in France
Britain &36.00. 900. in Italy 1880 900 and
in Russia G52. 900. 900.
creased IL we compare them with those of
former times. The normal cost of the
ornaments of war has OF late years enor-
mously increased. The annual interest on
the public debt OF the great powers is a
war tax. Behind this array of facts stands
q tragic figure. IL tells a dismal tale. 1t
speaks of overburdened industries. OF a
waste OF human energy unprOttably en-
gagged. of the squandering of treasure which
might have let light into many lives. of
homes made d~esolate, and all this too often
without recompense in the thought that
love OF country or to preserve national
honor or for national safety. When will
governments learn the lesson that wisdom
tty than weight OF armament"
CIVILIZATION DEFINED.
After treating the question of arbitra-
tion at length. Lord Russell concluded as
follows:
In dealing with the subject of arbitra-
ton / have thought IL right to sound a
mote Of caution. but II would. indeed. be
a reproach to our nineteen centuries of
Christian civilization If there were now no
better method of settling international
differences than the cruel and debasing
methods of war. May we not hope that the
people of these States and the people OF
the mother land-kindred peoples-may in
this matter set an example of lasting in
nuence TO the world? We boast OF our adj
vance and often look back with plying
contempt on the ways and manners of gem
e~rations gone by Are we ourselves with
out reproach2 Has our civilization borne
the true marks? Must 1t not be said. as
has been said of religion itself. that count
less crimes have been committed i'm its
mamie? Probably IL was inevitable that the
weaker races should In the end succumb.
but have we always treated them with
consideration and with justic2 Has not
civilization too often been presented to
them at the point Of the bayonet and the
Bible by the hand OF the filibuster? And
apart from races we deem barbarous Is
not the pa ssion for dominion and wealth