Omaha daily bee., 1898-08-18
AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION
Large Attendance OF Distinguished
Men from All Parts of
the Country.

SARATOGA. ". Y. Aug. iT-The Amer
lean Bar association began its annual ses-
sion here today. There was a large at
tendance of distinguished members Of the
bar from all parts Of the country. The
president. William Writ Howe, of Louis
lana, made the annual address.
In the course Of his address President
William Writ Howe said:
In reviewing the work of federal legisla-
ton during the last year are at once
confronted with questions Of war. annexa-
ton and conquest. To those OF US who
took part in the late civil war and knew
what real war meant it seemed unfortunate
that our nation should be again subjected
TO trial by wager OF battle. But the trial
came and we could only stand together, each
in his own way, for the flag. There is no
use to disguise the evils Of such conflict.
But We may look also at the compensations
of calamity. II we have yellow journal
lists and lingo politicians. who ply their vo-
cation at a safe distance from the range OF
even modern proiectiles, we have also such
men as Dewey of Vermont. Sampson of New
York, Schley OF Maryland. Hobson OF Ala
barna and Augustin Of Louisiana as types
Of American uanhood-if l were 10 name
them all | would simply be calling a roll
of thousands of heroes from north. south.
east and west-and We feel that now, at
Least, We have a common country, wherein
We may forget our controversies in the past
and together press forward to some better
and higher national lif. The
continued use of warfare in modern days
and as between nations pretending TO be
Christian IS one of those paradoXes that may
well justify the philosophy Of Schopenhauer
Manifestly ii is a survival OF savagery. AS
the human race has become slowly civilized
private warfare has become almost abol-
shed. There was a time no doubt, when
har rha rfs-G pnl1 o.
sorted TO for the purpose of enforcing pri-
va;e rights of every kind. and We may we'll
imagine its advocates resisting the estab-
lishment of courts, that is, of arbitration
in private matters-with many Of the same
arguments substantially that we now hear
in opposition to international action of a
similar kind.
The subject Of international arbitration is.
of course not free from difficulty, and II
is often misunderstood or even mlssIa'eu
in popular discussion. No one viii deny
the right of self-defense 70 nations II has
never been denied TO individuals even whore
"self-help' has been most stringently pro-
hibited. Nor does any one propose, so far
as l know. 70 undertake 10 apply the princi-
Piles of arbitration as between a ciVlllzed
nation on the one hand and a people on
the other so barbarous not 10 be able
TO appreciate or observe those principles.
people may be so savage that they must
be dealt with as We deal with unruly chill
dren Nor do we. propose 70 move 100
rapidly in this important matter, for II is
believed that all true and abiding progress
is necessarily deliberate. All We ask for
is constant and sincere effort in a true di-
rection. II is too late for any one TO say
that International arbitration is not pra
cable. II has been successfully tried many
times during the last thirty years.
The movement in the right direction has
! certainly begun. We simply ask that 1t go
| on. We know that war IS sometimes a
dread necessity and we yield precedence
| TO no man or class of men in devotion 10
our common country when she deems II
| necessary 10 draw the sword. And
| vet We know that there is "a more excellent
| way" War may be necessary sometimes
| but it is cruel and savage.
! And who loves war for wars own sake
| Is fool. or craZed worse.
! At the best war is a crude and temporary
! means to attain some result that might
| often be attained by better methods. Th,
| ultimate object must always be peace
| which alone can be enduring and fruitful
| and in the last analysis. the question mus
| always be-must we reach this peace through
the valley of the shadow of fire and SWORD
! and death. or by some better path
The address Of welcome was made by
| Chief Justice Alton Parker Of the court OIL
| appeals