Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-05-22

auSplClOOS moment OUT country Is
still ringing with the echoes of the
lofty sentiments and noble ideals
which found expression before thou
sands of attentive auditors at the
National Arbitration and Peace con-
gress held in New York month ago.
High officers OF government aud
leaders of public opinion at home and
abroad there united in giving voice
To sentiments which mean, II they
mean anything. that a new era is
dawning in the moral history OF
mankind. However. before another
month has passed, more than two
score nations will assemble at the
Hague to constitute a second inter-
national conference called In the In
terest OF international peace.
Whether we look backward or for
ward. therefore. we see only signs OF
good omen.
Like an Individual. nation has
mind and a conscience. and II has
them In n very real sense. As poll
ticlans and statesmen have long since
found out, the terms Puritan con-
science In America. non-conformlst
conscience in England, French spirit
and Gearman idealism on the Conti-
nent, are not names for empty ab'
stractions, but they stand In each
case for what is terribly real. one
of the chief problems OF our time
is to bring the nations minds and the
nations conscience to bear on the
moral problems involved In interna-
tional relations. This Is a step In
the moral education OF the world.
II carries with II no necessary crlti-
cism upon what has gone before and
no asperslon upon what now exists,
any more than the fun fruits re-
fleets discredlt upon the seed from
which Il sprang. The more perfect
and complete morality OF the future
IL itself to be the product OF the In.
complete and imperfect. but always
improving morality OF the past and
of the present.
There are good and earnest men
who now and then express the fear
that righteousness and peace may
somehow or other come into conflict.
This judgment appears TO me TO be
based upon a study OF the conditions
which have prevailed In the past
rather than upon an appreciation OF
the forces that are indicated 70 rule
the future. Not every Judgment OF
judicial tribunal. however learned
and dislnterested It's members, brings
complete satisfaction 10 both liti-
gants, or even 20 the public at large
yet the overwhelming majority OF
judicial decisions are equitable aud
do give satisfaction TO the public
Cannot the same be said OF the Judi
cial settlement OF differences between
lltlgants when those litigants are
nations instead OF individuals? or.
n Il cannot be said. then what as
suranoe have we. II force be resort
ed 10. that the cause OF righteous
ness will prevail in the struggleY
VIII not God be on the side of the
heaviest battalions," as Voltaire
cynically said7 II so. then the cause
OF righteousness has not been ad'
yanced by going 90 war. unless Il can
be supposed 10 be advanced by the
mere struggle on its behalf But II
this be- true. why should the struggle
on behalf OF righteousness take the
brute form OF physical e1ertiou,
rather than the truly human form
OF moral endeavor? The truth 10
that fghtIng is an animal appetite.
and. excuse Il as we may. moral be-
ings must treat Il as they treat other
animal appetites ana subject Il 10
rational control.
II Is dihieult. therefore. % see
what real ground there Is for sup
posing that righteousness and peace
can come into conflict when those
who seek righteousness are moral
persons. II they be not moral per
sons. collective or individual. then
What concept can they possibly have
OF righteousness So long as ho-
man nature remains human. the sew
eral nations viii each require their
syttems OF police. aud the world ~
large ~lll require an intsFnAtionAi
police: bat this international poiies,
While constituted Of armies ana
nayies. will. when Il comes. be con
stltuted In a way and from point
OF view quite different from armies
ana naylea mslntained for offensive
var.
From the forthcoming Hague con-
ference We should ask. thlhk,
ekleny two things. and u either ~
them should be given az. lons step