The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-29
FORMER DIPLOMAT SPEAKS
ON INTERNATIONAL PEACE
This Country's Influence a Power
full Factor in Preventing War,
Says Addison c. Harris.
HAGUE TRIBUNALS END
Purpose to Establish international
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Com
mands Peace in Europe.

IF Russia and Japan spoke the same Ian
guase and worshiped the same God in the
same way. there would be no war at Port
Arthur tonight" was one OF several sig
nifcant statements made by Hon. Addison
c. Harris. Of this city. ex-United States
ambassador to Austria. in a lecture on en-
ternadonal Arbitration at the First
Friends Church last night.
Mr.. Harris spoke with the authority of a
diplomat. He began his remarks with a
discussion of causes that led to the estab-
lishment OF the vast standing armies that
are maintained by all European powers, and
laid those immense and costly bodies of
fighting men that are maintained in times
of peace at the door of Prince Bismarck,
1.-The man of blood and IRON" whose policy
led TO the Franco-Prussian war Of 1870 and
the establishment of the German empire
The standing armies of Europe. said Mr..
Harris. are one of the chief reasons for
their lack of industrial progress, as for
three Of the best years Of his life every
able-bodied man I'm most of the European
countries Is forced TO desist from all pro-
ductive work and lose his individuality in
the army OF his country.
The triple alliance, or 'dreibund,' of Ger
many, Austria and Italy, whose basic
principle" said the speaker, sis defensive
peace" was explained as one of the great
forces that tend to peace in Europe, and,
he added, There can be no war in Europe
IL the dreibund commands peace"
From the realization that peace Is more
desirable than war. following the immense
outlay of wealth demanded by the standing
armies of Europe. came the Cars call for
a peace conference at The Hague. This
conference, said Mr.. Harris, while failure
IN some respects, was a success in that 1t
established the great peace tribunal at
The Hague.
The Hague tribunal" the speaker de-
clared, rs not clothed with the power Of a
court. for there is no sheriff. nor marshal
force its DEGREES, but II has higher power
behind 1.-THE moral force of the enlight-
ened people of the world"
The use of arbitration to settle all dis
putes between this country and England
was then touched upon and the fact was
impressed that there have been no wars be-
tween the two countries for nearly one hun
dred years. The speaker declared that the
United States Is the greatest power for in
ternational peace that the world has ever
known, and declared that this country has
been, In the last one hundred years either
arbitrator, mediator or party 10 sixty-eight
settlements OF international disputes by ar
duration, where war might otherwise have
been reSOrted to.
The practical way to bring about peace
was said TO be to help other people adjust
their difficulties without appeal TO arms
as well as to practice arbitration ourselves
DO not speak softly and carry a big
stick, " said Mr. Harris, but speak and
act justly, and you won't need the big
stick"
The general diffusion OF knowledge was
said TO be the greatest cause that will op-
crate for peace; But universal peace will
not come in day, it will be the result of
centuries. perhaps, of progress. I'm the
end" concluded Mr.. Harris, there will not
only be peace pacts between nations but
there will be a world army and navy, a
police force Of the court of nations. that
will be able to enforce by arms, if neces-
sary, its DEGREES on nations who disobey
them"