Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1904-09-03
The Hague Tribunal.

tShh NiFNNaSI VI lffEs ltpt-si
AS civilization grows, warfare be-
comes less and less the normal condition
Of foreign relations The last century
has seen marked diminution Of wars
between civilized powers; wars with I'M
civilized powers are largely mere mat
tiers OF international police duty essen
tial for the welfare of the world. Where
ever possible arbitration or some SINH
lar method should be employed In lieu
of war to settle difficulties between civ
ilized nations, although as yet the world
has not progressed sufficiently to rem
der 1t possible or necessarily desirable.
10 invoke arbitration In every case. The
formation OF the international tribunal
which sits ut The Hague is an event of
good omen from which great consequence
for the welfare Of all mankind may
flow. 1t is far better, where possible.
to invoke such n permanent tribunal
than to create special arbitrators for a
given purpose.
1T IS n matter of sincere congratula-
ton to our country that the United
States and Mexico should have been the
first to use the good Offices of The
Hague Court. This was done last sum
mer with most satisfactory results in
the case of a claim at issue between rs
and our sister Republic. 1t is earnestly
to be hoped that this first case will serve
as a precedent for others, in which not
only the United States but foreign na-
tons may take advantage of the machin
cry already In existence at The Hague"
A Good Navy Not Provocative of War.
From Message of Dec. 2, 1902.
"A good navy is not provocation Of
war. 1t is sure guaranty of peace.
The refusal to maintain such
(efiicienD navy would invite trouble,
and If trouble came, would insure disas-
ter. Fatuous self-complacency or van
ity, or short sightedness in refusing to
prepare for danger is both foolish and
wicked in such a nation as ours, and
past experience has shown that such
faulty in refusing to recognize or pre-
pare for any crisis in advance is usu
ally succeeded by mad panic of hys-
terical fear once the crisis has actually
arrived"
Triumph for international Arbitration
From Message of Dec. T. 1903.
This triumph of the principle of in
ternational arbitration reference of the
Venezuelan claims to The Hague Trib-
unaD Is a subject of warm congratula-
ton and offers a happy augury for the
peace of the world
There seems good ground for the
belief that there has been a real growth
among the civilized nations of senti
ment which will permit gradual sub
stitution Of other methods than the meth
DDS of war in the settlement of disputes.
1t is not pretended that as yet we are
near a position in which il will be pos
sible wholly to prevent war, or that
just regard for natural interest or honor
will in all cases permit of the settle
ment of International disputes by arbi-
tration, but by a mixture of prudence
and hrmness with wisdom we think it is
possible TO do away with much of the
provecation and excuse for war and
AT least in 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 settlements that it should be en-
couraged in every way"