New-York tribune., 1907-09-24

plaint. chiefly from the fugitive faddlsts' ','''
the congress has busted itself with the reguia
ton of war rather than with the promouoh VI
peace That is for all the world as though
convention Of physicians should be crlucioeu
for discussing the treatment of diseases III
stead of promoting health If the so-caie"
regulation of war, which really means the re-
striction of its activities and evil influences u
narrower limits and the mitigation of its nor
rors does not make for the promotion OF peace
we must ask for definition of the latter term.
Once a war between two powers was sure 70
involve all the neighboring powers. Surely the
adoption of international laws which connne
hostilities and the consequent disturbance OF
peaceful occupa tons to the two belligerents
and which assure the rest of the world free
dom to pursue the arts of peace without moeS-
tatou makes greatly for the promotion OF
peace. 1t really is not possible, though some
visionary faddistS appear to think 1t is, to turn
out so many barrels or tons of peace for dis
tribution among the nations, as though 1t were
meal bricks.
We are very far from conceding that the con-
gress is or is to be failure. 1t is great
thing to get practically all the nations or the
world together in peaceful council. Ihls is the
first time in history that that has been done
for in the former congress at The Hague only
two American nations were represented 1T Is
a great thing to have the once uespiSeu anu It.
iected states Of Latin America recognized as
equal sovereignties, and also recognzed-some
of them-as the peers of any in the world in
both intellect and morals. A few years ago
Euronean statesmen and publiCStS were
babituallv speaking of the South American
states as barbarous affairs, which would doubt
less be rushed and annexed by European
mowers at some not distant time. Now Euro
pean statesmen are confessing that they nave
something 10 learn in diplomacy and in CON
structiye craftsmanship from those very
states We think the whole attitude OF Europe
toward the American continents Will De
changed. and changed in an eminenty deslr-
able direction. because of this congress at
The Hague.
The congress has not yet adjourned and no
man can tell how much of practical gooo 1t
NAV not yet accomplish. But If it were 10 enu
Of tbis very moment It would be rash TO decry 1t
as q failure Few would make that charge eA-
centinr Jisappointed faddists who never nave
any use for anything which does not coinclde
with their fantisticality, or those VINO ulhN
that men are so endowed with creau'e oin
impotence that they can say, Let there DE
neace," and there will be peace The pracucai
enactments of the congress thus far are py h'
means inconsderable or unworthy. AS ior 'lie
nerhaps less tangible but not less pracucai
moral and educational results actually achle'e
they are so great that it would seem presump-
mons TO mention failure in connection win
Them We had no idea that the congress would
dooroo +bn dishandmpnt of armies and the scut-
tIing of navfes and we are not Disappointed |
I'm its not having done so. But Just because
II has not achieved or even essayed the lmpos- /
sible is no reason for assuming that lhe III
vtation Come let us reason toGether' IL AZ
together vain.