New-York tribune., 1908-04-25
ON lNTERNATIONA LAW
SECRETARY ROOT SPEAKS.
Says Public Opinion Rules the World
Protection of Aliens Discussed.


began at the New Willard Hotel to-day. A pro-
gramme has been arranged which will keep the
hundred or more members of the society engaged
Until tomorrow night, when the meeting is to end
with dinner. The feature of the session to-day
the address of Secretary Root, president of the
society, in which il most Interestingly shown
that the world was being governed by public opin-
ion and that this opinion was becoming more
humane and less warlike. MIR. Roots subject was
The Sanctions of International Law" He said:
One accustomed to the administration of mu-
time to the discussion of practical questions aris-
of international law must be struck by dlI1er- el
afects the intellectual processes involved every
discussion and which is apparently funoanentai-
nicipai lawyer are addressed to the object of set
ting in motion certain legal machinery which VIII
result in judicial judgment TO be enforced py
the entire power of the state over htgants sub
ject to its jurisdiction and control 49,. o.,.r
hand. proceeds seek the establishment of rights
has apparently no objective point which he can
science and sense of justice of the opposing party
to the controversy. In only rare. exceptional ana
tionaI LAWYER however clearly demonstrated, have
behind them the compulsory effect OF posslple
war II,
In the vast majority Of practical questions .a aris
why either party should abandon its own conten-
ments men i Of the 6fheT side This apparent absence
OF sanction for the enforcement of the rules of
that those rules are entitled to be called law at
e and to s e nd wRc m m
to the % in n each all
the foreign Offices Of the civilized world are con
internationai law both pubic and private cheer
fully and hopefully marshaIling facts i6in
up records designed to show that the rules OF IN m
be done or such and such things to be left IN
done. And in countless cases nations are yleio.
ns 31 er dwn
cuaT cases c under 81 m an Hes 10
Careful consideration seems TO lead 10 the con-
ment Of international law no less real and sub
stantal than those which secure ooedlence 10 nnu-
nicipal law.
FORCE OF PUBLIC OPINION.
In the vast majority of cases men refrain from
incur in the community in which they live the
public and & ob3gu Gh3fh of con9c
prescribed by that community for its members.
point different ways, the latter is invariably the
stronger The force Of law Is in the puPmc 0pld
ard of business integrity which obtains IN the
Social esteem and standing power and high place
in the professions in public ofhce, IN an S dsso1
standard of conduct in the community. Loss OF
these is the most terrible penalty society can IL
The rules of International law are enforced by
emptory, but continually increasing in eHectlVe-
ness of control. "A decent respect to the opinions
With the American Declaration of Independence;
act in the Kew World should be an appeal 70
that universal international PUBLIC opinion me me
power and effectiveness of which the New NorIo
has done so much TO promote ... uo.,-eos
ft if @ nfion of ifse1f and indiffeTent to
the opinion of others, separated from all others
only on the phTscai power Of other nations Now
however. there may be seen plainly the elLec5s OF
the ISOLATION of nations perm,eating every counFf M
world a knowledge Of each governments conduct
TO serve as a basis for criticisms and Judgment
and gradually creating community OF nations
IN w9lcn sta4dardS 2L G0nHGSt b iio i sboidfn
nations conformity condemning them for
Paru passu with the breaking down of isolation
that makes a common public opinion possible, the
building up of standards of conduct is being
COnplished by the formulation and establishment
domain Of discussion into that of general accept
ance-a process in which the recent conferences
at The hague have played great ana honoraDie i
is willing TO subject itself TO the discredit of
standing brutally on its power TO deny to other
conduct The Difference shown to this interna-
tional public opinion is in due proportion TO
among the most Isolated and least Civilized of
countries whose ignorance of the world prevents
the effect Of the worlds opinion: and in every
such courary internal disorder. oppression, pow
erty and wretchedness mark the penalties which
warn y., mankind that the laws established by civ
cannot be ignored with impunity.
opinion exercised much by governments
by the people of each country whose opinions
interpreted in the press and determine the
cOuntTys attitude toward the nation whose
duct is under consideration. International opin-
ion is the Concensus of individual opinion in the
nations. The most certain way TO promote obedi-
ence TO the law of nations and 10 substitute the
power of opinion for the power of armies and
nsvies Is the hand, to foster that decent
respect to the opinions of mankind" which found
place in the great DECLARATION of 1876, and
the other hand. to spread among the people of
every country just appreciation of international
rights and duties and a knowledge of the princi-
n IF a q ma
tional conduct ought TO conform; that the gen
eral opinion, whose approval condemnation
supplies the sanction for the law, may be sound
and just and worthy Of respect