The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-07-28
Result OF the peace Congress.

With the ending of the negotiations
of the international Peace Congress, 1t
may be said that the conference has not
been in vain, for much benefit will re-
suit from It's work. 1t is pleasing to the
people of the United States to know
that one Of the most important features
decided upon. and one which marks
great advance for peace and civilization
between the nations OF the world, is the
scheme of arbitration. which was pro-
posed by the American delegation.
While the original plan was not adopt
ed in full. so as to make arbitration
compulsory, It is still worthy OF APP
provaI and will do an immense amount
OF good in averting wars in the future
1t will be voluntary arbitration. In
effect, 1t being impossible to provide
compulsory measure unless all the
great powers could agree to strictly en-
force 1t. That may come later, for the
present provision is very lengthy step
in the direction of the first proposition.
The New York Journal OF Commerce
and Commercial Bulletin shows the
strength OF the scheme agreed to, when
It says: THE recommendation of the
twenty-slx nations participating in the
Peace Conference, that arbitration
should be resorted to when diplomacy
fails, cannot but have powerful intln-
ence upon statesmen. no matter how
jIngoish. There is in every nation
strong sentiment opposed to war; there
are always extensive interests enlisted
ON the side of peace. 1t is when they
are so overcome that nation goes to
war"
We had this fact strikIngly demon-
strated just previous TO the outbreak Of
the spanish-American war Of last year.
When the President sought to settle
the Cuban matter through diplomacy,
and was doing all he could to accom-
plIsh for Cuba what was desired with
out resort to war, the great. impulsive
war sentiment in the country was
bringing a powerful influence to bear
upon him. His hands and the hands Of
Congress were forced. Had the Presi-
dent had the support of enough who
preferred peaceful means, he might
have accomplished the purpose with
less cost Of money than 1t took to whip
Spain, without loss OF life. and would
have averted the great responsibilities
which are yet to be settled.
Returning to the good effects Of the
conference at The Hague, one of them
is that the dellverance by the Peace
Conference viii AFFECT. in wholesome
way. the moral sentiment Of ench ma
tEon, and all civilized nations in general
which are burdened by militarIsm-par-
tlcularly is this true of the leading Eu-
ropean nations. One of the features Of
the scheme is that the conference pro-
noses a permanent court of arbitration,
which win be In Itself an admonition to
avert war. Being in existence already
any nation in trouble could not very
well refuse It's invitation to resort to 1t,
as the means Of constructing the court
are agreed to by all.
Taking all things into consideration
the results Of the Peace Conference are
most satisfactory. especially so to the
people OF the United States, whose dele
gates have had 50 much influence
throughout the proceedings. and who
are accorded the credit for the most I'M
portant result OF the historic affair.