The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-05-03

arbitration, pledging the reference to
The Hague court of all disputes except
those involving the national life, will
speedily be placed nthe statute books
of the world
THE high water mark of the work
Of the second Hague conference was
reached in it's action in regard to flu
ture meetings of the conference. The
principle of periodic meetings Of the
conference hereafter was approved
without dissenting voice. The date
even of the third conference was fixed
and the governments urgeA to appoint
at least two years in advance an in
ternational commission to prepare the
program of the meeting. This action
means, if approved by the Several
powers, as it undoubtedly will be-
that We are to have hereafter regular
meetings of a world conference. The
powers of the conference will at first
be only advisory, but in the very ma
ture of the case it's conclusions and
recommendations will be very large
~ adopted and in this way it vii
from the very start be substantially
legislative world assemb'y It's powers
will naturally grow and be extended.
Here we reach the real position which
the peace movement has attained. The
promise, therefore, is very large for
the years just before US for when the
nations meet representatives, at reg
ular periods and men of the highest
ability and experience discuss in a
friendly and frank way all of the COM
mon problems of the world, the days
of war will be numbered, the great
ornaments which now burden and dis
tract humanity will tumble to pieces,
and the era of universal and perpet-
ual peace will have begun. 1t takes
no large vision to see this great con-
summation realized at no distant
time"
Miss Eckstein's Speech.
Miss Anna Eckstein of Boston, was
the speakers of the afternoon.
and delivered an address on "A World
Petition to the Third Hague Confer
ence." In part, the speech follows:
1.-The world petition is the outcome
of national integrity and honor. Abo- |
lition of war is the most pressing need
of today, because preparation for war
of bankruptcy: and because war itself
has become ineffective as a means of
deciding International controversies.
War to- a finish between two leading
powers, today. would mean mutual eco
uomic ruin.
Peoples ought to have voice in the |
shaping of international affairs. 1t is |
a duty to exercise this right
AN experiment is the petition pre-
sented to President Nelidow of the
Second Hague conference by Hon.
Robt. T. Paine. president American
Peace society. and myself. In five
months the petition had two million
signatures from the U. S. A. and inl
five weeks it got several hundred thou
sand from Great Britain and Germany.
Collecting these signatures proved that
skeptics even see the wish for a3oli-
ton of war is not futile. Once seeing,
they will manifest their wish Collect
ing these signatures proved that most
everybody wishes the abolition of war.
To obtain expression of this universal
wish can, be done.
The people alone do not shape in
question is: Are responsible leaders
of governments in earnest about the
abolition of war? Everywhere millions
of dollars are demanded for continued
preparation for war. Will q petition,
even if it represents a majority world
vote, do any good?
This single international law, which
will be as responsible and easy to
make, as the laws concerning the in
ternational arrangements for postal and
telegraph service-this single law will
with one stroke shift the responsible
ity, for national life and honor from
the shoulders of armies and navies to
the shoulders of fair-play statesman
ship working through pacific means.
And with the responsibility must and
will go what belongs to it; the financial
and brain support which will strength
en- and perfect the pacific institutions
for the settlement of international con-
troversies; and the causes of such con-
troversies must be minimized, so that
the declaration of the abolition of war
each nation can safely begin, as it sees
III III It's OWu peculiar case. " IeuuCc
armies and navies.
This is the sense and purport of the
world petition. 1t asks the govern
ments of the Third Hague conference
to sign conventions pledging:
81. The establishment of a universal
law by which a decision by pacific
means of any international difficulty
shall in no case endanger the Self-preS-
ervation and development. l. e., Che
vital interests and honor of any nation.
%. Removal of the causes of war
by regulating in speedy succession all
international interests by conventions
and treaties. each with clause insur-
ing pacific settlement of any difficulty
that may arise from said arrange
ments.
"S' Settlement by pacific means of