The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-06

tical contest such contributions are always
 mads to both sides. It is entirely proper
 both to give and receive them, unless
 there is an improper motive connected
 with either gift or reception. If they are
 extorted by any kind of pressure or prom. | ise, express or implied, direct or indirect
 in the may of favor or immunity, then
 the giving or receiving becomes not only | improper but criminal. It will undoubted- 1 ly be difficult as matter of practica detail to shape an act which shall guard with reasonable certainty against such
 misconduct; but if 1t is possible to secure | by law the full and verified publication
 in detail of al lthe sums contributed to and expended by the candidates or com mittees of any political parties the result | can not but be wholesome. All contri- | buttons by corporations to any political | committee or for any political purpose | should be forbidden by law! directors l should not be permitted to use stock | holders money for such purposes; and moreover. prohibition of this kind would l be, as far as 1t went an effective method i of stopping the evils aimed at in corrupt practices acts. Not only should both the national and the several state legis- I latures forbid any officer of a corporation from using the money of thee orporation in or about any election, but they should alos forbid such use of money in connec- ton with any legislation save by the enl- ployment of counsel in public manner fol distinctly legal services.
 The Hague Conference.
 | The first conference of nations held at The Hague In 1s99 being unable to dis pose of all the bushes before it. recon mended the consideration and settlement | or number of important questions by l another conference to be called subse- | quently and at an early date. These ques- | tions were the followng CD The rights and duties of neutrals; @ the limitation | Of the armed forces on land and sea- and or military budgets (3) the use of new l types and calibers of military and naval | guns; (D the inviolability of private prop l arty at sea in times of war: (5) the bonn | Dardment of ports. cities and villages by naval forces. In October, 1904, at the instance of the interparliamentary union Whlch, at conference held in the United l states and attended by the lawmakers of l htteen different nations, had reiterated , the demand for a second conference of na. i tions, l issued invitations to all the powers l signatory to The Hague convention tc ! send delegates to such a conference ane | suggested tahiti be again held at The 1 Hague. In its note of December 16, 1904 | l eated to the representatives of foregr 1 governments it's belief that the conference | could be best arranged under the provis
 ions of the present Hague treaty
 l From all the powers acceptance was l received, coupled in some cases with tho | condition that we should wall until tn, | end or the war then wagng between
 Russia and Japan. The Emperor of Rus ] sia, immediately after the treaty of peac, ! which hanfaiIy tod r; {.
 note presented to the President on Sep | tember l3, through Ambassador Rosen 1 LOOK the initiative in recommending tha the conference be now called The United | states government in response expressed | It's cordial acquiescence and stated tha | It would as matter of course, take par | m the new conference and endeavor tt | lurther Its aims. We assume that al | civilized governments will support tn,
 movement. and that the conference i
 now an assured fact This governmen
 will do everything in its power to secur | the success of the conference to the en,
 that substantial progress may be made li | the cause of international peace, justice
 and good will.
 This renders it proper at this time tt | say something as to the general attitude
 or this government toward peace. Nor,
 and more war is coming to be looked upo, |
 wanton or useless war, or a war o
 mere aggresson-in short. any war be | gun or carried on in a constituencies spir 1t, Is to be condemned as a pecularl,
 atrocious crime against all humanity
 We can. however, do nothing of per
 manent value for peace unless we keel
 ever clearly In mind the ethical elemen
 which lies at the root of the problem
 Our aim is righteousness. Peace is nor
 maly the handmalden of righteousness
 but when peace and righteousness con
 fict then a great and upright people cal
 never for moment hesitate to foloy
 the path which leads toward righteous
 ness. even though that path also lead
 to war. There are persons who advocat
 peace at any price: there are others who
 following a false analogy, think that be
 cause it Is no longer necessary in civi
 lized countries for individuals to protec
 their rights with strong hand. 1t i | therefore unnecessary for nations to b 1 ready to defend their rights. These per sons would do irreparable harm to an
 nation that adopted their principles an
 even as it Is they seriously hamper tn | cause which they advocate by tendn . | to render it absurd In the eyes Of sensl
 ble and patriotic men. There can be n
 worse foe of mankind in general, and c
 his own country in particular, than tn
 demagogue of war, the man who in mer | folly or to serve his own selfish end
 continually rails at and abuses other na
 tions, who seeks to excite his country men against foreigners on insufficer pretexts. who excites and inflames per verse and aggressive national vanit, and who may on occasions wantonl
 bring on conflict between his nation an some other nation. But there are deme gogues of peace just as there are dema gogues of war. and in any such move : ment IS this for The Hague eonferene 1t is essential not to be msled by on } set of extremists and more than by tn other Whenever it Is possible for na { tion or an individual to work Tor res
 peace assuredly 1t is failure of duty nc so to strive, but if war Is necessary an } righteous then either the man or tn 3 nation shrinking from it forfeits all tit to self-respect We have scant symps . thy with the sentimentalist who dreao g oppression less than physical suferinl who would prefer shameful peace l the pain and toll sometimes lamentaol