The Washington herald., 1908-04-05

men and jurists Of the highest rank-men
who have distinguished themselves before
the world BY their equity and wisdom in
public affairs. It's establishment should
be on such a scale of dignity. and the
powers conferred on It should be so high,
that even a justice Of the Supreme Court
of the United States should feel honored
by an appointment TO servo on it, or such
statesmen as John Quincy Adams after
he had left the Presidential chair
Before such tribunal sooner or later,
two states. in contest with each other.
would bring the subject of their debate
The court would hear Them by counsel.
and would give it's decision. To enforce
that decision, it is perfectly true. 1t would
not have d musket or a ship. But the
moral weight Of It's decision would be alb
solute. No State in America is so strong
that Il could stand against it. The legis-
lation Of every State and its conduct
would, sooner or later. comply with the
courts decision"
A few weeks after the Washington con.
ference of 1895 the second annual meeting
Of the Lake Mohonk conference on inter
national arbitration was held a meeting
N IsSnx- respects more impressive than
even the great meeting at Washington in
April. The conference in its declaration
of principles. made a great advance. di-
rectly inspired by Or. Hale, and submitted
that the matter of International arbitra-
tion should not be left to casual and. tenn
porary provision incidental to separate
cases. as they might arise but that there
should be established 10 meet the world s
new exigencies the permanent tribunal.
This was what DR.. Hale proposed in 1889,
and what he kept on proposing with itera-
tiOn and TelteTation on every occasion
and by every means-speeches. sermons,
magazines, newspa pers-for the next ten
years He proposed it at MohOnk IN 1895
in a speech which was the notable event
OF that first MOhonk conference, and he
proposed il there again. with new empha-
Sis the next year and the next. A per
mament tribunal, A permanent tribunal,
A permanent tribunali- -sv' this word
by this conception so clearly worked out
Dr. Hale proved himself the prophetic
man in the movements movement so
much more definite and determined than
America had seen before, with the possi-
ble exception Of that Of Elihu BuTTitt in
| the great peace congresses and Of William
Law. who inspired him, for the substttu-
tion of law and order for war among
nations.
/ remember hearing one Of our famous
diplomats declare at Mohonk. after Dr..
Hale's memorable speech in 1896. that it
was not probable that for many years TO
come the governments would accept any
such deal" and another eminent diplo-
mat declare the next year that ut aims
too high for our day" That was in 1897.
In less than half a dozen years The
| Hague conference had been held, The
Hague conventions signed. The Hague
/ tribunal established. and the first case
| before il decided. a case in which the
United States was a party. This history
/ is worth remembering hy the skeptics
about progress. The virtue Of Dr. Hale
/ has always been his belief that some
/ things in this world can be done as wei
as others; that the things which ought tO
he done can be done more quickly nova
/ days than ever before, and that our busi-
ness IS to set about doing these without
any talk or much care as 10 how many
years It viii take.
There is no man who loves history and
/ the past. loves celebrations Of the right
/ kind and Of proper proportion. better than
| DIT Hale; but there is no man 50 impa-
| tient of the lashing of dead corpses and