The San Francisco call., 1903-12-08

There seems good ground for the belief that
there has been real growth among the civ
tlized nations of sentiment which will per
nit gradual substitution Of other methoos
than the method of war IN the settlement or
disputes. 1t is not pretended that yet We
are near a position in which 1t will be posi-
Bile wholly to prevent war, or that just re-
gard for national interest and honor will IN
all cases permit Of the settlement Of interna-
tional disputes by arbitration: but by mix
ture of prudence and frmness with wisdom
we think it IL possible to do away with mucn
of the provocs tion and excuse for war. and at
least many cases TO substitute some other
and more rational method for the settlement OF
disputes. The Hague court offers so good an
example Of what can be done in the direction
Of such settlement that 1t should be encOur-
aged in every way.
Further steps should be taken In President
McKinleys annual message OF December ..
1898, he made the following recommenda-
ton:
The experiences of the last year bring for
chilly home to US a sense of the burdens and
the waste of war. We desire, in common with
most civilized nations TO reduce to the lowest
possible point the damage sustained in time OF
war BY oeaceable trade and commerce II
is true we may suffer in such cases less than
other communities, but all nations are dam
aged more or less by the state Of uneasiness
ana apprehension into which an outbreak OF
hostilitIes throws the entire commercial world
1t should be our object therefore to minimize
so far practicable this inevitable loss and
disturbance. This purpose can probably best
be accomplished by International agree
ment TO regard all private property at sea as
forces Of belligerent powers. The United
States Government has for many years advO-
Gated this humane and benehcent principle
and Is now in a position to recommend 1t to
other powers without the imputation OF selfish
motives. I therefore suggest for your consid-
Grafton that the executive be authorized to
correspond with the governments OF the prin-
cipal maritime powers with a view OF incor-
porating into the permanent law OF civilized
nations the principle of the exemption OF all
private property at sea not contraband OF war
from capture or destruction by belligerent
powers"
/ cordially renew this recommendation
The Supreme Court, speaking December
IL, 1893, through Justice Peckham said:
1T is, we think historically accurate to say
that this Government has always been in it's
views among the most advanced Of the govern
ments Of the world in favor of mitigating as
10 all non-comba tants, the hardships and hor-
rors OF war. To accomplish that object It has
always advocated those rules which would in
most cases do away with the right to capture
seas
advocate this as matter Of humanity and
morals 1t is anachronistic when private prop
erty Is respected on land that should not be
respected at sea. Moreover. it should be borne
In mind that shipping represents. information
cias I.9, d Llucn IAoIS senerdli1eo spe-
cles OF private property than is the
with ordinary property on land-that is, prop
erty found at sea is much less apt than is the
case with property found on land really to
belong to any one nation. Under the modern
system OF corporate ownership the flag OF
vessel often differs from the flag which would
mark the nationality of the real ownership
and money control OF the vessel and the
cargo may belong to individuals OF yet a diff
ferent nationality. Much American capftal il
now invested in foreign ships: and among
foreign nations 1t often happens that the cap
ital OF one is largely invested in the shipping
or another. Furthermore, as a practical mat
ter, II may be mentioned that while COM
meree destroying may cause serious loss and
great annoyance. it can never be more than
a subsidiary factor in bringing to terms a res
of ofute or zoe Inns Is now well Teeognized by all
the commerce destroyer, is the vessel whose
teats ADD renown to nations history and
establish her place among the great powers
of the world.
Last year the Interparliamentary Union for
international Arbitration met at Vienna six
hundred members Of the different Iegisla t,Tss
of civilized countries attending. 1t was pro-
vided that the next meeting should be in 1901
at ST. Louis. subject to Congress extending
an invitation Like the Hague Tribunal this
lnterparliamentary Union is one Of the forces
tending toward peace among the nations OF
the earth, and 1t Is entitled to our support
trust the invitation can be extended.