The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1907-04-20
ANSWERS ROOSEVELT.
Carnegie Replies to Presidents
Peace Suggestions.
NE CALLS THEM OBJECTIONS

Declares All Nations Can Arbitrate
All Disputes and Justice Unchanse'
able Should Hold Universal Sway
Over All Nations.
New York. April lS.-The first con
vention Of the National Arbitration
and Peace Congress came to an end
after a three days session, with two
large banquets. one at the Hotel Astor
and the other at the Waldorf-Astoria.
The event OF greatest interest was the
decoration OF Andrew Carnegie with
the cross OF the Legion Of Honor by
the French government. represented
by Baron d Estourneles de Constant,
appreciation OF his work for peace. and
his gift of the palace at The Hague.
Mr. Carnegie. who is president OF
the congress. gave out statement as
10 the results of the congress. Al
though not so designated by Mr. Car
neeie the statement constitutes a re-
ply to some of the suggestions con
tanned in the letter which President
Roosevelt addressed to the congress
on It's opening day Mr.. Carnegie
quotes these statements as "objec-
tons" and proceeds to answer them
as follows:
"Our peace conference has brought
three objections clearly before us:
"First-Nations cannot submit all
lucslions 10 arbitration.
"AEswer-Six of them have recent
" done so by treaty-Denmark and
The Netherlands. Chill and Argentina
Norway and Sweden. So much for the
claims that nations cannot submit all
questions. They have done H.
Second-Justice is higher than
peace.
"Answer-The first principle of nat
ura justice forbids men to be judges
when they are parties to the issue. All
law rests upon this throughout the
civilized world Were a Judge known
TO sit upon a case in which he was Sc
cretlv Interested he would be dishon
ored and expelled from his high office
II any individual refused to submit
his dispute with a neighbor to disin
terested parties (arbitrators or judges
and insisted upon being his own Judge
he would violate the first principles OF
Justice. If he resorted TO force in de
Tense of his right to judge. he would
he dishonored as a breaker Of the law
Thus Deace with justice is secured
through arbitration either by court OF
bv tribunal never by one of the par
ties sitting as judge in his own cause
Nations being only aggregates OF
individuals they will not reach JUS
tice in their judgments until the same
rule holds good. viz: That they. like
individuals shall not sit as judges In
their own cause What is unjust for
individuals is unjust for nations. Jus
tice is justice Interchangeable. and
/ should hold universal sway over all
men and over all nations
"Third-it is neither peace nor jus
tice. but righteousness that shall exalt
the nation.
ANSWER Righteousness is simply
doing what is right. What is just is al
ways right: what is unjust is always
wrong. II being the first principle oil
Justice that men shall not be judges
in their own cause to refuse to submit
TO Judge or arbitrator Is unjust. hence
not right for the essence OF righteous
ness is Justice Therefore. men who
place Justice or righteousness above
peace practically proclaim, to me. that
they will commit injustice and discard
righteousness BY constituting them
selves sole Judges Of their own cause
in violation OF law justice and right.
civilized man has reached the con
clusion that he meets the claims OF
Justice and Of right only by upholdine
the present reign OF law. Our pressing
duty is to extend its benignant reign
IN combinations of men called nations
What is right for each individual must
he right for the nation. This union oil
law and Justice. assuring peace and
good will among men through disin'
terested tribunals. is the righteous
ness which exalteth a nation. The de
mand that interested parties shall g
In Judgment is the wickedness that
degradeth nation
Baron d'Estournelles de Constant
announced in his address at the Wal
dorf-Astoria banquet that the cross OF
commander of the Legion of Honor had
been conferred by the French govern
ment on andrew Carnegie. and then
proceeded to the banquet at the Hotel
Aston where the decoration was for
mallv presented to Mr.. Carnegie. amid
qraat annlsuse and cheering