The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-12-08

exercised through the forms OF law. A
man does not have TO defend his rights
with his own hand because he can call
upon the police. upon the sheriff
posse. upon the militia. or in certain
extreme cases upon the Army. to de-
TEND him- But there Is no such sane
o OF force for international law. AT
present there could be no greater ca
Iamity than for the free peoples. the
enlightened. ~independent. and peace
loving peoples. to disarm while vet
leaving IL open to any barbarism or
despotism to remain armed So long
as the world Is as unorganized as now.
the armies navies OF those peoples
VINO On the whole stand for justice. of
fer not orsly the best. but the only pos
sibIe. security for a Just peace. For
instance. If the United States alone. or
in company only with the other nations
that on h whole tend to act Justly.
disarmed. we might sometimes avoid
btoodshed. but We o to be
or weight in securing the OF fus-
uce--the real for which the most
faw-abiding n high-minded men
must ar times be willing to fight. AS
the world Is now. only that nation is
eauiDped for peace that o how to
fight and that will not shrink from
fighting if aver the conditions become
such that war is demanded in the
name of the highest morality.
So much ii is alphabetically neces-
sary to say in order both that the posi-
ton of the United States NAV not be
misunderstood. and that a genuine eff
fort to bring nearer the day of the
peace of Justice among the nations
may not be hampered by a folly which.
In striving to achieve the impossible.
would render it hopeless to attempt
the achievement of the practical. But
while recognizing most clearly all
above set forth. it remains our clear
duty to strive in every practicable way
to bring nearer the time when the
sword shall not be the arbiter among
nations. At present the practical thing
to do is to try to minimize h number
of cases in which it must be the arbi-
ter. and to offer. at least to all civilized
powers some substitute for war which
will be available in at least a conSid-
cradle number of instances. Very
much can be done through another
Hague conference in this direction. and
I most earnestly urge that this Nation
do all in its power to try to further the
movement and to make the result of
the decisions of The Hague conference
effective. I earnestly hope that the
conference NAV be able to devise some
way to make arbitration between ma
tons the customary way of settling in
ternational disputes in all save a few
classes Of cases. which should them
selves be as sharply defined and rigidly
limited as the present governmental
and social DEVELOPMENT Of the
world will permit. If possible,
there should be a general arbi-
tration treaty negotiated among
all the nations represented at the con-
ference. Neutral rights and property
should be protected at sea as they are
protected on land. There should be
an international agreement to this
purpose and a similar agreement de-
timing cOntraband of war.
During the last century there has
been a distict diminution in the num-
Der of wars between the most civilized
nations. International relations have
become closer. and the DEVELOPMENT of
The Hague tribunal is not only a sym
, tom of this growing ~clOSeneSS of rela-
tionship, but is a means by which the
growth car be furthered. Our aim
should be from time to- time to take
such steps as may be possible toward
creating something like an organiza-
ton Of the civilized nations, because
/, as the world becomes more highly or
ganized the need for navies and armies
will diminish. 1t is not possible to Sc
cure anything like an immediate dis
armament. because it would first he
necessary to settle what eODle are on
the whole a menace to the rest Of
mankind. and to provide against the
disarmament of the rest being turned
into a movement which would really
chiefly benefit these obnoxious peoples:
but it may be possible to exercise some
check upon the tendency to swell in
definitely the budgets for military ex-
penditure. OF course such an effort
could succeed only if it did not attempt
--1 &c " -,~~o Nv
taken in a spirit of sanity as far remoV-
ed as possible from a merely historical
Observation-Disclosures. 1t is worth
while pointing out that since the end
of the insurrectiOn in the Philippines
his Nation has shown its practical faith
in the policy of disarmament by re-
ducing it's little army one-third. But
disarmament can lever be Of prime
Importance: there is more need to get
rid of the causes Of war than of the
implements of war.
T have dwelt much or the dangers to
be avoided by steering clear of any
mere foolish sentimentality because
my wish for peace is so genuine ana
earnest: because / have q rea! and
! great desire that this second Hague
conference NAV mark long stride for
ward in the direction of securing the
peace of Justice throughout the world.
NJ optStl 10 oSNlS oAN1i
ton of enlightened craftsmanship than
the establishment Of a surer method
than now exists of securing Justice as
between nations. both for the protec-
ton of the little nations and for the
prevention of war between the big ma
tons. To this aim we should endeavor
: not only to avert bl~oodshed. but. above
all. effectively to strengthen the forces
Of right. The Golden Rule should be.
and as the world grows in II
will be. the guiding rule of conduct
| among nations as among individuals:
though the Golden Rule must not be
construed. in fantastic name as for
bidding the exercise of the police pow
err. This mighty and free Republic
should ever deal with all other states.
great or small. on a basis of high hon.
or. respecting their rights as jealousy
as il safeguards its own.
Monroe Doctrine.
One of the most effective instruments
-