The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-11-01
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER ], 1891
An Era Of Peace.

An Era OF HeaCc.
,1.,.;,c,,t,,.5 is inilltinlviur that the nations
!, ,bs earth arc getting nearer and
nearer to a peace. footing and thef1a y
promise that in The no distant 'utuls
var will practically have been aponsne"
an Two separate occasions wi rlin the !ast
several months the relations between
I Creat Britain and Russia have bcch ~ y
tensclv strained. Not many years ago
either of these offensive acts on the paf'
,f tho I,a,ssian navy would have been re-
rar1ed a q sufficient provocation Of wal
ana war almost surely would have o.
lowed But while Tie British people were
INDIGNANT, they held their passions wen
an restraint and the difficulties were
peacefully adjusted.
0 Another evidence OF the spirit Of peace
wbich Is brooding over the world Is =
,,otc Yesterday sent out ny Secretary Hay,
hinder instructions of the P:ess'ent, &1'too-.
rosng a second Hague conference. rms
conference is not only for the conslderii-l
ton of questions specifically mentioned by
the original conference as dcmahd'ns
Is further attention, such rs the rights a'u
"a. 4. ( ! =
duties of neutrals. the nviolLpli'ty OF
private property In ns,si:..! warfare, ana TIE
lombard ment Of ports by naval force,
bnt goes farther in practically endorsing
the project Of a general system OF ar lol
tyation treaties and the establishment
65Eoe m international congress, to meet
q periodically, in tho interest of peace.
Secretary Hay also hints at the cnor-
NOUS expense TO the powers or being az
4 WAYS prepared for war: or keeping ailseH-
pensive navy and an expensive army arm ~.
ever upon a war footing We haVe ~
ready printed III these columns fSures
showing how. expensive q thing IS war
ana the fear Of war, and we heiicVc ti il !
Ia, this reason alone By and by NATIONS
arc going to adopt some means OF set-
ding their disputes by peaceable arptra-
,ne,,t rather than by the sword. Eut
+ tl,ere# is a iigher5view. In considering az
such suggestions We are apt to give u 'i'''
Z ttaportance to the nation as an org am
cation rather than to the individual COM COM
posing it. The nation, after all IS iao '
ing but an organization OF lndlVicoti' =:
and the rules of conduct, mora ana oti ii
wise. which govern men in their ced ''iss
,.,,t Z d. II, other us such are equally apPli-
c3,la i, nations That which Is indlviu-
,lalIy right cannot be natlonaii! "Foi's'
and that whicltas individually WRONG l1s can
10, be natstnurly right There was
time when men settled their disputes ~
brute force. But in a civilized govern
mem IN This age such a thing is not tol-
Grated. When men have personal quar-
,,.,s tle law does not recognize that they
4 nave a right 10 fal! upon eacll other ana
haye II out tooth and nail. Especially
when here are disputes between man ana
man regarding questions OF business -
Il, not permitted under law 10 settle by
resort 10 brute force. II Is true that men
continue to fight and II sometimes nap
,eps that a man feels that lie ia COM
ueIled to Ggit There are insults and m
1uries which chivalrous men feel 1hat
they must personally resent but even
that sort Of lighting Is becoming more
and more rare ana r!ght-minded men do
NOT think of settling their business DIS
agreements by personal encounter me
government says that when there are DIM
cultcs between men they must be set
lied in court The government does not
allow its citizens to settle their quarrels
according 10 the code Of the jungle,
I,ut when ii comes 10 nations they seem
10 mink that they have some sort Of
divine right not possessed by ind!YicuaAs
ii Ia go TO war and settle by gun and
sword Such inconsistency cannot be de-
tended Christian nations must practice
what they preach. They must make The
SANG rules OF conduct for themselves
rs organizations that they make for in
& dtpiduals under Their control, There
FGuuld be a great international court to
decide questions between nation and
nation and all disputes arising should be
referred 10 that court This may seem 70
some a Visionary suggestion nut every
reason that can be gwen for settling IN
court disputes between Individual and in
tiyidual applies With equal FORCE to ma
tons and we haze an abiding faith that
The time Is mol distant when nation,
s NH take that view. II is slearIy within
tho mower OF the United States and thc
nations Of Europe confined absolutely
"a abolish war and settle all their dit
ierences III court. II is only q matter o
agreement,
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