The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-08-18

ilib ~ US CHRISTIAN Is one OF kuNof i'ts
doXes that may well justify the philoso-
phy Of Schopenhauer. Manifestly IL IS
survival OF savagery. As the human race
has become slowly civilized. private war
fare has become almost abolished. There
was time no doubt when what the Jur-
lists call "self-help" was re=or,cd 10 for
the purpose OF enforcing private rights
OF every kind and we may well Imagine
its advocates resisting the establishment
OF courts that IS of arbitration Ia pri-
vate with many OF tho same az
gumeuts substantially that we now hear
i'm opposition 90 international action OF
similar kind. But in due time-though
when, precisely. We cannot say-humanity
became weary OF private warfare SELF
help came TO be unlawful. and the man
who desired TO enforce his private right
was obliged 90 appeal 10 a tribunal OK
some kind.
10 IS useful 10 remember now and them
the change that has come over the en-
ightened portion OF the world since the
latter part Of what we call the middle
ages. n Athos. POrthos and Aramis were
10 appear. even in Paris. to-day and be
have as they did In the delightful novel
OF Dumas. they would be in the lookup
I'm an hour The void is tired OF private
warfare and personal turbulence. Inc
ideal OF manhood i'm private life. IS the
quiet modest gentleman who vaunteth not
himself and Doth not behave himself mn
seemly.
A POKER GAME
Is e. not possible that such benencent
change should take place also In inc
ideals Of national life? Some ~ our jour
nalists and some OF our politicians seem
- think IL impossible. To some OF them.
tho great American game N poker with
lis "blun' and frs "brag" IS fitting fype
OF national conduct To others D. seens
90 Doe an article OF faith ihat while we
may an try with more or Jess sIece5S 10
Doe gentlemen in our individual capacities.
vet the moment We enter che domain OF
public conduct we must be precisely .he
reverse. and present our country 30 the
presence of the world as the very eInh' a.
iment OF everything that would be either
absurd or insunerable in private ife
The subject of international arb.tiation
Is. OF course. not free from difficulty and
IL is often misunderstood or even hif-
stated I'm popular discussion. No one VIII
deny the right OF self-defense 10 nations
II has never been denied % individuals
even whore "self-help' has been most
strincentlv prohibited. Nor does any one
propose. so far as I know, 20 undeftake
10 apply the principles Of arbitration as
between civilized nation on the one
hand and 4 people ON the other so 5arha-
rous as not 20 be able to appreciate or
observe those principles.
II Is too late for any one 70 say that IN
ternational arbitration is not practicable
II has been successfully tried many times
during the last thirty years
War may bee necessary sometimes, but
* is cruel and savage:
"And who loves war for wars own sake
is fool. or crazed or worse"
HOW TO REACH PEACE.
At the best. war is q crude and tenn
porarv means 90 attain some result that
might often be- attained by better meth
DDS. The ultimate object must always oe
peace. which alone can Doe enduring ana
fruitful: and IN the last analysis, the
question must always be-must we reacn
this peace through the valley OF the saad-
ow of fire and sword and death, or by
some better path.
We might at least make a beginning.
Forty-six years ago. Alfred Iennyson'
who sometimes saw things with that
large and lucid vision which is now and
then youchsafcd to the poets eye. In bis
lyric verses entitled. Hands all
Round" exclaimed OF our country:
Gigantic daughter OF the West
We drink 20 the across the food.
We know thee most. we love thee lost,
For art thou not Of British biood2'
TIME PROPITIOUs.
And surely after the lapse OF nearly
half a century the time is not less pro-
piti0us for "a treaty of arbitration with
that great people TO whom we are at
tached by so many ties OF blood aud
language and literature and law; and
with whom IN spite of so many superficial
differences and disputes. we yet pro-
foundry svmDathiZe concerning those
things which make for freedom and luf-
tice and truthfuincss in national life
There is no question here of am "alll-
ance." and we need not fear that the
majestic shade of Washington can have
any reason 10 frown upon the project All
that is suggested is that we make bee
ginning that we commence an expert
mont which may bee of immense benefit
and cannot by any possibility do any
harm. 80 better beginning could be
made than by taking mp the subject again
with England And fl may bee borne I'm
mind that not only are we OF English
| descent but we have among us the chile
| drcn of many kindred races-frOm HOl-
! land, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Ger
many. A treaty once made with Great
Britain. and found 90 be Just and use-
! ful. would. no doubt De followed by SIM
| liar agreements with those other nations
and soon the enormous influence of the
| AnplO-SaxOn. the scandinavian and The
TeutOnic peoples might bee cOnsO .idatcd
| I'm favor Of the arbitration OF every In
ternad0nal dispute which cannot be aI-
iustcd hv diplomatic negotiation. May
/ the good day soon comet
The address az welcome was made by
Chief Judge Alton y. Parker. Of the
| Court OF Appeals.
The association this afternoon n0mi-
mated ana elected members. The report
| OF TIE general counsel was submitted.
| The reports OF the secretary. John Hink-
| ley. Of baltimore. and the treasurer
| Francis Rawle. Of Philadelphia. were
presented and referred. as was also that
| OF the executive chairman
Judge Lyman y. Brewster 81 Con-
noctlcut. tonight read a very able paper
on Uniform State Laws"
Judge Brewster said in part "the move
ment toward uniform State Laws IS no
stranger 10 the American Bar Assoc
citation. First object stated IN the call
| for "a meeting 10 form an American Bar
| Association. IS to assimilate tine laws
| of the different States In fact the
! American Bar Association has been the
/ generous godfather OF the conference
of commissioners ON Uniform State Laws
and the main object of the present pa
| per. IS. If may borrow "A phrase from
| the law merchant % negotiate further
draft on the paternal generosity"
Not now necessary 10 re-state the
| reasons for greater uniformity IN state