The Cairo bulletin., 1907-04-18

IL the governments? No doubt they
sometimes show want Of firmness
in resisting popular passion. but they
say. and often with truth. that il is
popular feeling that pushes them into
twar. Or Is the fault with the news
| papers, We all know that the news
papers fan the flame and spread II.
| But what Is their motive? They want
Ito please the public. They believe
he public likes to have its passions
aroused The press is what the peo-
pie make IT, Every nation has just
I such newspapers as 1t deserves. The
blame after all rests with the people
themselves who l5se their heads un-
der excitement. They can resist
everything except temptation.
Now, gentlemen, we have got to
face these facts and see what can be
done TO make nation realize in
times of excitement the truths which
sober senses before the fighting fever
had got into the brain. There seem
70 be only three things that can be
done TO prevent the recurrence of
these fever fits One is to reduce
that pride which every state feels in
having enormous military and naval
forces-a pride which necessarily
draws with il the temptation to use
the ornaments which ii has taxed
itself so heavily 10 maintain
Every one admits the enormous
difficulty of bringing about general
limitation OF ornaments. II may be
possible to secure that limitation at
once. but ii is an object of such SUI
preme importance. especially TO the
countries which find the burden OF
taxation a grevious one, that it ought
TO be seriously discussed and ought to
be kept before the minds of all the
great peoples as a problem which has
go. TO be solved sooner or later. To
pass il by does not make IL easier.
for while the difficulties do not
creasing. We must hope that an
earnest effort will be made at The
Hague conference TO consider this
question and TO bring it at least one
stage nearer 10 solution.
THE second practical step that
may be taken is to make general arbi
tration treaties and to enlarge their
scope by including as many causes
Of international difference as can
possibly be referred to arbitration
OF where the matter is not stric ~
legal one. can be made the subject Of
mediation and Cancellation. The
great advantage OF such treaties is
that they interpose delays and allow
the better sense Of each nation TO
subdue its passions. Even II the mat
Ter in dispute is not one which a court |
Of arbitration can ultimately settle,
the resort TO arbitration gives the |
voice of reason time To be heard and !
brings the opinion of the whole world |
to bear upon the two parties at vari- !
ance. Nations are naturally jealous !
Of their own honor but when they |
find the opinion Of the world does not
hink that concession prejudices |
their honor. they may be more willing |
10 make the concession. The creation |
" such general treaties and OF a per |
tribunal 10 entertain and de-
eide the cases that are brought be |
fore II would be one OF the greatest |
services that peace conferenc could |
render.
Lastly. though il is true that such
a congress as this. meeting in time /
II peace cannot be relied upon 10 1
avert some fresh outbreak Of passion.
a j. none the less true that II may /
10 something 10 form opinion in the /
masses Of a nation and 10 bring home
10 every ciiizea the sense of his own
responsibility for the removal Of this
3,dest evil of humanity. The Older an
syil Is and the more ingrained II is.
he longer h must take to remove.
The spirit II Christianity Is in the
modern world more bent on dealing
with the actual evils that attic the
sorid than perhaps Il ever was be
fo:e and every gathering such a. this
docs something TO help it, beneficent
stion and 20 summon the masses Of
ne people 70 listen 10 its voice"