The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1907-04-17

In the slow evelopment of civiliza
ton. The continual and unceasint
process of diplomatic Intercourse b,
which these standards are pressed up
or the government of every nation
backed by the tremendous power oI
the opinion Of the civilized world
Ieniorccd by the desire for the good
Iorinion and apprehension of the dis
favor of mankind, form q strong ex-
Iternal restraint upon national con-
duct; and these standards have been
CT Gated by the evolution of moral
as opposed to physical forces.
The value of declaring a principle
may be illustrated by the effect of
the arbitration convention agreed up
or In the International Peace Con-
ference at The Hague In 1890. That
convention did little more than TO
declare principles; il provided ma
chnery by which there might be
arbitration, but It bound nobody to
arbitrate, or to mediate, or to accept
mediation. The machinery provided
has been but little used; the arbi-
trations at The Hague have been
few and not OF the first order OF i'm
p0rtance; yet no one can for a NOM
ent question the enormous impetus Civ
ell OF the principle of arbitration of
International controversies in lieu of
war by that open and public declara-
ton that such controversies ought to
be arbitrated.
The thoughts of all men who hope
FOR the peace of the world are now
turned toward the Second Peace Con
ference so soon to meet AZ The Hague.
l. Is cheering to note the difference
between the attitude of the world to-
ward his Conference about to meet
and the way in which the world
looked'upon the First Conference at
The Hague eight years ago. The
generous impulse and noble sentiment
o. the Emperor of Russia which die
tsted the call for that Conference.
supported by his great power and
commanding position. compelled the
respect, or the appearance of respect
.,
safe TO say that the prevailing senti-
meTt among the powers as to the
practical value of the Conference was
one of polite incredulity and that the
delegates whom he had called to-
sether amid an almost universal be.
lief that nothing would or could be
accomplished. The primary object
o. the call for the First Conference
the accomplishment Of the great de-
sign which Henry w of France con-
ceived three centuries aga for the
of armaments i'm Europe-
tailed for the time; yet the Confer
ence accomplished other things of the
highest value to humanity, and II
demonstrated for the first time In
the worlds history the potent and
epoch making fact that congress of
the worlds powers convened. not to
deal with some concrete question de-
manding immediate solution. but con
vened TO consider and discuss the, ap-
plcation of the general and funda-
mental principles of justice and hu-
manity under all circumstances and |
10 all International questions can be |
made practical and effective agency |
IN the government of the world. IL de |
veloped new method and new
power for the betterment of interna- I
tional conduct, far superior to the |
ordinary rules of diplomatic inter |
course, far broader in Is scope, far |
noble in Is purpose. Upon the eve of |
the Second Conference whose very |
pt ssibility demonstrates the success |
and approves the wisdom of the first |
Il seems to me that all men who love |
their fellow-men and who hope for |
The rule OF Righteousness and peace |
Jn earth should feel deep senti-
nent OF gratitude toward that SOW
,ieign whose noble character led him
% call together the First Conference
and an equally deep sympathy with |
him in the hard and difficult task in |
which he Is now engaged of estab-
fishing constitutional government in
bis own dominions.
The Second Conference is ABOUT to |
meet amid universal recognition that
It Is of practical significance. II COM
nands retpcct; its possibilities are
The object of solicitude; the resolu-
tions which 1t may reach are antic-
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