The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-18
PEACE ERA is COMING FAST,
so OSCAR 8. STRAUS TELLS 4
COOPER UNION MEETING. ,

The Cry 'TO AFmsP' s0on 70 BE Superseded
by the shout "fO the HagueP--The
Rev. DR.. sieeF Would like to See the
Grand Dukes Heads Knocked Together
Oscar 8. Straus, American member Of The
Hague tribunal, was the principal speaker
last evening at the joint meeting held at
Cooper Union by the Peoples Institute
and the New York State Conference Of
Religion In the interest Of international
peace. He described the work Of the tri-
bunal and said that II any one at the close
Of the Franco-Prussian War had declared
belief that within a century so many
nations would Join for the peaceful settle
ment Of international differences he would
have been Characterised as a frenzied
prophet.
Yet we have seen II in our lives the
speaker went on Think Of Ill That
twenty-six nations could come together and
agree on anything. The Hague treaty is
the Magma Charta Of international law. It
is a voluntary act, and that makes 1t the
more effective, because it Is supported by
national honor-by the conscience OF the
civilized world.
The tribunal does not claim that war
will absolutely cease. but 1t does claim con-
fdently that the causes that lead to war
will be immeasurably lessened."
Mr., Straus said that it was much 10 be
regretted that the recent arbitration
treaties were killed in the Senate, because
the United States has been in the lead for
100 years In the advancement Of arbitration
10 settle international difficulties In the
last campaign, he said. it was feared that
Roosevelt would bring on a war II elected,
yet a short time after he was chosen Chief
Magistrate OF the nation the Senate threw
down the treaties he had made, fearing
to put too much power in his hands 10 make
peace.
Yet in some ways I do not regret the
defeat Of these treaties, the speaker said,
for the questions that might have been
settled under them had been whitfield down
to dangerous point, entirely outside Of the
broad spirit Of The Hague agreement. The
Hague treaty was never framed for such
narrow purposes as that. It stands for
the arbitration Of all difficulties between
nations, without exception.
1T is not generally known how broad
and important an instrument it Is.
regard il as the triumph Of the nineteenth
century that the nations could come to-
gether at its end and make a treaty like
that. The tribunal has advanced more
rapidly than did the Supreme Court Of the
United States in the first Ave years OF its
existence
In describing the advantages Of arbi-
tration over war Mr.. Straus said that war
does not settle anything PERMANENTLY,
but merely which nation Is the strongest, !
and II always leaves behind the restless !
spirit Of revenge. On the other hand, arbi- |
tration settles differences for all time, be |
cause 1t settles them on the basis Of right, |
and leaves behind Il, not the horrors OF |
war OF the thirst for vengence but a spirit |
Of amity between nations. In his opinion |
the reason why the sympathies OF the |
civilized world are on the side Of Japan in |
her struggle with Russia is because the |
fact was universally recognized that Japan |
was not fighting for japan, but for civili- |
zation.
In conclusion Mr. Straus predicted that |
In the future instead Of the bsrbarous cry |
ITO arms! TO armsl' we shall hear ofteneT |
another cry: ITO The Hague! TO The Hague!'
Edwin D. Mead of Boston. vice-president !
Of the American Peace Society, scored
religion for the part 1t has taken in en-
couraging and approving war.
IF there has been an Infamous war that |
the Bishops and priests and deacons have |
not been willing TO bless and pronounce |
a benediotion upon said he, have not
heard Of IT, In this matter Of war and |
peace don't know Of anything the Church |
needs more than 10 be converted TO Chris
tianity. The Beer war was Infamous. yet /
there was scarcely a Bishop Of the English |
Church who was not willing TO bless It,
The Rev. DR.. Slioer said he regarded war
as criminal. foolish and wastetul. If /
had been going to call that Hague confer
enoe, as the Gar did, he said, i would /
have got the heads OF those Grand Dukes /
close enough to each other 20 knock them ,
together before started In.