The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-10-12
GIBBONS ON ARBITRATION.
The Cardinal Would Leave to it the
Settlement of Strikes,

Cardinal Gibbons has in this weeks
issue OF the Independent an article on
The Benefits of Arbitration" The ed
ltor IN an Introductory paragraph SAYS
the views of the Cardinal "have special
value just now in view of the coal strike
and his active interest in the dispute
involved in it," Here is the article:
Christianity has created and is daily
developing international law throughout
the civilized world. Courts of arbitration
are growing in favor among Christian
nations. Alexander VI. was chosen by
Portugal and Spain to arbitrate regarding
their respective claims to the newly dis
covered territory in the western world
The decision of the Pontiff was very pro-
badly the means Of averting a sanguinary
and protracted conflict between these two
rival nations Instances of arbitration
are multiplying in our own day. The dis
pute between Germany and Spain in refer
ence to the Caroline Islands was adjusted
by Pope Leo XIII. in 1886. The Samoan
difficulty between the United States and
Germany in 1889 was referred to a friend
ly conference held in Berlin. At the close
of President Clevelands Administration,
an arbitration treaty between Mexico and
the United States was signed in Wash
ington. By an act of Congress passed
in 1888 the President is authorized to in
vite representatives Of the governments
of South America, Central America Mex
leo and Hayti to an international confer
ence in Washington. The very first pro-
position to be discussed has reference to
the adoption of measures that shall tend
to preserve the peace and promote the
prosperity of the several American
States.
With the view of promoting the bless
ing of international concord a society has
been organized in this country. 1t was
fitting that Philadelphia should be chosen
as the seat of this society, for it's very
name signifies brotherly love. It's founder
was an illustrious member of the Society
Of Friends whose distinguishing charac-
teristic is aversion to strife and the Gull
tivation of peace and fraternal relations
among mankind.
In well-ordered society the disputes OF
individuals are settled not by recourse to
a duel but to the law. Would it not be
a blessing to humanity if national con-
troversies were composed on the same
principle, and that the just cause of
nation should be indicated by a court of
arbitration rather than by an appeal to
arms? Then to rulers, as we'll as to
private litigants, could be applied the
words:
Thrice is he armed that hath his quar-
rel Just"
And this amicable system, while pro-
tecting Their lights of the weak, would not
humiliate or wound the national pride of
the strong, since it does not attempt to
trench on the sovereignty or autonomy
of any power.
Let us cherish the hope that the day
is not far off when the reign ois the
Prince of Peace will be firmly established
on the earth, when the spirit of the gos-
pei will SO far sway the minds and hearts
Of rulers that standing armies will yield
to permanent courts of arbitration, that
contests will be carried on in the council
chamber instead of the tle-feld and
decided by the pen instead of the sword.
Experience has shown that strikes are
drastic and at best very questionable
remedy for the redress of the laborer's
grievances. They paralyze industry, they
often foment fierce passions and lead to
the destruction of property, and above
all, they result in inflicting grievous in
jury on the laborer himself by keeping
him in enforced idleness, during which
his mind is clouded by discomfort while
breeding over his situation, and his fam
lily not infrequently suffers from the want
of even the necessaries of life.
1t would be a vast stride in the inter-
ests of peace and Of the laboring classes
if the policy OF arbitration, which is now
gaining favor for the settlement of inter-
national quarrels, were also availed Of
for the adjustment of disputes between
capital and labor Many blessings would
result from the adoption of this method,
for while strikes, as the name implies,
are aggressive and destructive, arbitra-
tion is conciliatory and constructive; the
result in the former case is determined
by the weight of the purse, in the latter
by the weight of the argument.