The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-07-30
SUBSCRIPTION RATES.
Work of the Peace Conference.


On the 24th of August last the Car of
Russia called upon the nations of the earth
to send delegates to a peace conference.
The call was a great public document, and
it will stand out in history as the begin
ming of a movement that will certainly
minimize the use of war, and perhaps in
the course of time abolish it altogether. 1t
was in Itself wonderful step forward.
The conference thus called met and now
as August comes again its work is COM
peted, ready for the ratification and sig
nature of the nations. There are many
ready to declare that not much has been
accomplished, because a disarmament
scheme was not adopted. but it is mis-
take to say that nothing was accomplished.
Three conventions or declarations were
adopted Thus far these have not been
made public, but their tenor is well known
The second and third conventions aim to
minimize the horrors of war on both sea
and land. They prohibit the throwing of
projectiles from balloons. the use of deadly
gases as military weapons, and the use of
expanding or explosive bullets. England
and America objected to the prohibition OF
the dum-dum bullet. These two conven-
lions may prove disappointing, as was the
failure to agree upon some scheme of dis
armament but the two conventions Will
prove to be valuable work that the next
peace conference can build and improve
upon.
The convention that provides for per-
manent tribunal of arbitration, in accord
ance with American ideas, is the chief work
of the conference 1t is not to be at once
a powerful tribunal. 1t cannot compel at
tendance at its session at The Hague;
1t cannot enforce its decisions; but it Will
be court to which nations not brutally
and aggressively inclined can resort when
disputes arise. Resort to it is to be wholly
voluntary, but nations that refer disputes
to this great court must at the outset
agree to abide by its decision. Nor is this
all. 1t is made the duty of all signatory
powers, when dispute arises between two
nations, to call the attention of the hos
tile countries to the fact that the arbi-
tration court is open and ready to hear the
controversy whatever it may be.
In connection with this duty" the able
and alert American delegation inserted in
the declaration a statement that nothing
in 1t should be construed as imposing an
obligation upon the United States to in
terfere in European affairs or vice versa.
This is the first authoritative recognition
OF the Monroe doctrine by all the nations.
Great Britain had recognized the famous
doctrine in the Venezuelan boundary dis
pute, but the other nations had not. The
Monroe doctrine is now a part of inter-
national law.
Tho chief gain of the peace conference
tanned in the three conventions as in the
promotion of sentiment among the ma
tons against war and against the burden
of milftarism, and the recognition of arbi-
lfallOn as metnOd beyond diplomacy for
the settlement of international disputes.
The world, at the instance of the czar has
begun to look away from war;, towards
universal peace. This is no longer a mere
dream. The peace conference has put the
dream into concrete form-not absolute and
certain, but very suggestive and thought
compelling. The rest is in the hands of
the good people of the world. War must
be made to appear the horrible, brutal,
uncivilized affair that it is. A world wide
sentiment must be built up against it that
will practically compel all nations to re-
sort to the arbitration tribunal In case OF
trouble-a sentiment that will lead to a still
more radical'peace conference in the near
future--a sentiment that will put an end
forever to the trade of war, a trade that
has been handed down from barbaric times
and That is hereafter. let us hope, to be
more houored in the breach than In the
observance.