New-York tribune., 1906-08-07
THE WORLDS PEACE.
International Oratory and SIozcer
NaUaI Construction.
Tnndon. Tnlv "a


of q long. Iank Western legislator, who after
series Of devastating grasshopper plaques rose
A the Assembly with a tragic air and furiousiy
condemned the Governor and the party in power
for their ineXcusable inaction in a monentous
emergency. When the general Indictment had
besa pressed home with cumulative force. a
member OF the opposite side OF the House quietly
asked what the Governors ferocious critic would
have him DO 10 avert the recurrence Of the locust
plague The answer was quick and sharp as a
sneeze 7 would have the Governor OF this
great commonwealth appoint day for prayer
and fasting and put himself IN a right attitude
70 Divine Providence on this grasshopper ques-
ron" During the last week good many promi-
nsnt men have been taking the right attitude
toward peace, arbitration disarmament and
ether questions OF humane civilization
The Prime Minister has done IL at the risk OF
being charged with indiscretlon In his sympa-
sheric references 70 the Russian Dourna The
Tora Chancellor has reinforced him with the
Weghty words: "An ounce OF example is worth
q ton OF precept. Some nation must show
he example" Count Apponyi. the Hunga-
y.an Minister OF Education. has taken the same
nose in an eloquent rhapsody on patriotism as
1--we OF humanity, which should not be allied
with hate-as religion above the ambition of a
rrizefglter-as the victory OF what was no.
hest II man. Mr. Bryan. mounting now an i'm
nosng tribune and again an unpretentious chair
after luncheon, has let himself go as the apostle
n peace, fraternity and democracy. NJ d'Es-
tourneIes de Constant and other delegates to the
I1ferparliamentary Union have made impressive
annals in the hall % William Rufus and in the
ROYAL Gallery Of the House OF Lords It has
been an inspiring experience meeting, with
splendid stage setting, and everybody who has
either spoken or seconded a resolution has put
himself in the right attitude toward the worlds
greatest cause-rational peace Does it follow
thai the plaques Of armaments and war will
Cease IN q wicked world2
Apparently the members Of Mr. Cremer's con-
ference and the enthusiasts OF the Radical press
disrrlst the efficacy of oratory like Mr.. Bryan's
ard resolutions as full and round as those
adopted with unaninity and supreme hopeful
ness II the Westminster conference The cry
has been raised within the Interparliamentary
Union and outside that somebody must take the
initiative IN the new Parliament OF Man. As
often as rulers. statesmen and writers have set
themselves in the right attitude against the bar
barisn Of war, a leader has arisen The Car
took the initiative when the first peace congress
was summoned, and as the autocrat Of a power
III military empire his example seemed sufh-
Gently authoritative Yet the congress at The
Hague could not accomplish anything in the di-
rection Of disarmament; and il would have been
e complete failure # the American delegates had
lot enlisted the support Of Lord Pauncefote and
secured the establishment OF the Permanent Ar
bi;rauon Tribunal They saved the situation
after Russian autocracy had exhausted its re-
sources Two years ago the Interparlamen-
tary Union was entertained at ST. Louis with
oratory as brilliant as Mr. Bryan's has been this
week al Westminster and when the resolutions
we're adopted with rounds Of applause there was
7fror
who should summon q second peace congress.
President Roosevelt entered heartily into the
plans OF the peacemakers, and Secretary Hay
opened negotiations with the powers, and sub
geguentiy the Car, at the suggestion C the Ger
nan Emperor, was allowed TO resume the lead
ership OF the movement after the close Of the
disastrous war with Japan. The President and
The Car already divide the responsibility Tor
tbe second peace congress at The Hagu<- pet as
soon as the Westminster conference mas closed
there is an urgent demand that the Prime MIN
tster shall give effect TO its humane aspirations
bv pledging himself TO take up the new policies
and carry them out. He opened the conference
By defining several questions which he consid-
cred Of the first Importance; and the delegates
have given their answers in the resolutions 50
Iitrle faith have the enthusiasts themselves IN
their own principles that they now declare that
their proceedings viii be futile without a Brit
tsh initiative in forcing the new policies upon
the next peace congress
II the peacemal6ers Of The Hague fall-s2no 90
not think they wil for the moral forces or CIVIL
,zarior are behind them-it will not be through
lack os Initiative. The British Prime Minister
following the example Of President Roosevelt
and the Car. has put himself in a most sylnpa-
thetic attitude toward the interests OF ule
worlds peace He is deliberately seeking TO sci
ire example OF reducing arnaments before tae
peace congress assemblies Radicals are assert
ing prematurely that this has already been done
N M-. HaIdane's army reorganization proposals;
bur this is a controversial matter The British
army has been for z long time skeleton organ
!zation, with every branch Of the service below
its nominal strength Sir Chatles Dixie and Air.
Arnold Forster have been asking incisive ques-
lions this week about the ten battalions which
are 70 be dlsbanded. and Mr.. HaIdaue has not
convinced military critics that there VIII be
genuine reduction Of the regulars The men VIII
not be lost when the battalions are broken up
They viii stiTen the files Of other battalions
which are not recruited 10 their full strength
Z z large reduction Of military expenditures be
Effected that viii be salutary example OF par
tai disarmament, but otherwise a scheme OF re-
organization by which the militia viii be rem
dered liable 70 service abroad and an expedi-
uonary force Of 10000 will be available for any
emergency cannot be regarded as an impressive
Demonstration II disarmament The German
military experts. with their IeYies OF conscripts
s1d scientific preparations for war. do not take
serious view OF the British army and the un-
eeasing Efforts 70 reorganize it by rearrange-
'aent of paper forces They will not be IN
Auenced by an example Of that sort If olsarI1la-
hent proposals are brought forward al the
Peace Congress. They viii be impressed II the