The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-08-15
-4uERIc.4 At THE HAGUE.

1t seems to be accepted as a fact be-
yond all dispute that the proclamation
Issued by the car, out of which The
Hague arbitration tribunal has come,
was productive of little or no practical
good in the way of promoting interna-
tional peace, and, indeed, that the I'M
dertaking represented by that proclama-
ton was too visionary to give serious
thought to the leading nations of the
world or to thoughtful men anywhere
The o b has never shared such a
view. It has believed and still believes
that the establishment of The Hague
body was one of the most benefcent
events of the century just closed. That
1T will bear fruits and will promote the
realization of the time when swords shall
be beaten into ploughshares, so that the
present generation will see serious inter
national disputes uniformly disposed of
by reference to The Hague tribunal We
have never doubted.
It is gratifying to hear the representa-
tive of the United States on that tribunal
accept sucn a view in all it's complete
ness. Mr. Hollis interview, published in
yesterdays Globe, referring to The
Hague international body, should be read
by all men who refuse to believe that
humanity will continue, Notwithstanding
all the advances of these times, to be
sunk in militant brutalism, and will con-
tinue indefinitely to accept the sword as
the arbiter of national difficulties. 1t is
not so. That one European ruler who
sets himself up as the incarnation Of
the warrior idea is much oftener the
subject of the ridicule of the world than
he is of it's admiration.
After having exchanged views with the
leading scholars and diplomats of Europe
on the general subject, Mr. Hollis finds
1t safe to make the following declara-
tion regarding the arbitration tribunal;
From, all we have heard we believe
that the outlook for peace among the
great powers, and for the gradual, but
unmistakable, development of the intent
of the peace conference could hardly be
better No European people wants war
any more than the Americans. NotWith-
standing all appearances to the contrary,
public opinion is today the greatest Eu-
ropean power. OF course, 1t would be
folly to say there is no longer danger of
war, for popular excitement in any one
quarter may upset all calculations. Still,
the existence of permanent tribunal
to decide international disputes the we'll
recognized economic breakdown which
war now means for all belligerents, the
lessons of the Boer war, and the fright
full tiasco in China, all these elements
of the situation are working powerfully
for peace.
Never did the American nation appear at
such grand advantage before the world
as through her representatives at The
Hague in standing for the highest posi-
Bile realization of the dream of universal
peace. Not a European man. with intel
ligence high enough to compass the grand
significance of the event, or who is not
himself the representative OF. violence and
false social ascendancy, but looked to the
United States in that transaction as the
one influence which might De powerful
enough to give some practical scope to
the sublime idea embodied in the cars
proclamation. Not twice the bloodshed
and folly of the Philippines would suffice
to divest this republic of the love and re
spect with which it and it's people are re-
garded, as Mr.. Hollis says. throughout
Europe, by the masses Of the common
people on account of it's attitude at The
Hague, as well as on account of the noble
example which it has ever presented to
ali other nations in the cause of human
liberty.