The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-14

character 81 the rules 81 the ring. Be-
fore the adoption OF sczne such eide as
the Marquis Ct aSeensberry rules. prize
fighters fe.t AZ liberty when wxr was
declared between them and thsy were
engaged ia conflict, 10 pound each other
without regard 20 any consideration ex-
cept crippling and even killing the adj
verxary. Brutal az those engagements
sssu are, civilization has prescribed Ger
tain limits within which the lust Of
force and eraesfy shall be confined. ana
IL STEPS In 70 deprive the victor ofsths
advantages Of con1ues; when those
ruIex are violated.
War In q brutal and fnhunan method
Of settling differences. Sentiment has
Invested the force OF arms with the
attribute OF right. but the pitiful his
tory Of the human rice shows that
might In not always On the side Of
right. and that victory does not always
mean that justice has prevailed. When
Eosfilitiss were rssorsed 70. every cour-
tesy was abandoned, and out OK the
customs OF battle arose The adage that
all things are fair in war. Modern
civilization does not agree with IL. and
80 the great powers have set up GER
tain rules by which they agree to be
bound even when quarrel has been
left to the arbitrament OF the sword.
when Lord Chief Justice Russell Wis
| tied this country two years ago. In his
| famous addres- before the American
/ Bar Association at Saratoga be cut
lined the growth Of international law.
| lie said:
| .srne foundation OF the law OF nations
| lies In this, that the human race. 50 d.
ys6sd INTO various peoples and kingdoms.
| has always certain unity which Is not
merely the unity OF species but Is also
| political and moral. which extends 10 all
| peoples. however foreign they may be 10
one another. and whatever may De their
character or constitution. From which II
| follows that although any state. whether
a republic or q Kingdom, may be corn-
munity complete .n itself, IL IL neverthe-
| less a member OF that whole which con-
| sntates the human race: for such a COM
| fnuEity IL never 80 completely seif~snfiicing
| but that II requires some mutual help and
| intercourse with others. sometimes for the
| sake OF some benefit 10 be obtained. but
sometimes. too. from the moral necessity
and craving which are apparent from the
| very habits OF mankind. On this account.
| therefore. law Is required by which
/ states may be rightly directed and regu-
! lated In this Kind OK intercourse with one
another
| He gave credit TO the United States
/ for the development OF the laws Of
| neutrality. Although earlier writer's
| had taken considerable part in the
| formulation OF rules relating to a state
| az war. ''to the United Statcs-to its
| judges. writers and statesmen---we
| largely owe the existing rules which re-
| late Ia a state OF peace. and which at
| feet the rights and obligations OF
| powers which. during state of war.
| ara themselves at peace"
| We are now In state OF war, ard
Il il our duty. from the position we
| occupy in the rank II nations, to apply
very maguanimousy those principles
| which va have sought, In time Of peace,
| TO Impress upon the civilized world. It
| was Spain which suggested To the ma
| tive Of land which had suffered from
| Spanish atrocities. a code OF lnterna-
tionai Law. The Dutehman. Hugo de
| Groot. or Grotlus. rs be is better known.
| was born in an age when the Spanlards
| had delugei the Netherlands with blood.
| The year after his birth, William the
| Client, the heroic leader OF a heroic
band Of patriots. fen n victim 20 an
/ assassin acting upon the authorization
| ot and promises OF reward held cut by
the Spanish king. Even In that day
| Spain pursued the same relentless and
/ marderous force she has employed so
| long after. and In a more civilized time.
| against the Cahans
Kent. writing OF the work OF Grotius.
says that he found that war was a
| stranger to oil justice. when men
! took mp arms. there was no longer any
| reverence for law, either human or a.
| vine: ard IL seemed as IL some malig-
| nan; fury was sent forth into the world
| with a general license for the commits
| Sion 81 all manner ~ wicEedncss and
| crime" Grotlus undertook To show
/ tia, justice Was - perpetual obligation
ana essential TO the welf-oeirg - every
| society. and tina: the rrea. common
wealth Of nations stood IN need 81 law.
| and the observance ~ faith and the
/ practice % Justice.
Early In the late civil MAR this nation
undertook 10 PUT Into practice the prin-
ctp.es Of humanity Ia war which we