The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-01
CARNEGIE FAvORS
TAFT'S SOLUTION
President Arbitration Theory
Said to Be Epoch Making
VITAL STEP FORWARD
Recent Proposal to Submit Questions
Involving National Honor to In
ternaticnaI Board Viewed as
Decisive Utterance
VITAL STEP FORWARD

From Andrew Carnegies War and
Peace" In the Century Magazine.
Under present rules of war there are
in Europe as many possible centers of
war as there are nations on that CONT
nent. We have 46 nations called states,
yet there is not one center of war. Re-
sort to force would be rebellion. This
unity, which insures freedom from dan
ger of internal war and free exchange
of products Is fast making our Union the
foremost power of the world. Our wealth
already exceeds that of any other nation,
our population is exceeded only by that
of Russia or China or India our manu-
features exceed in value $1,000, coo. 600
said to exceed those of Great Britain and
Germany combined. At the present rate
of increase our population, and hence
our military strength, will soon equal
that of both The last census $1,000 gave
over 5000, 600 males of militia age.
In considering the problem, let it be
noted that it Is no longer actual war
itself which the world in our day has
most to dread. This is not our greatest
curse 1t is the "ever-present danger Of
war" which hangs over the world like
q pail and which we have to dispel. Men
are now born and die. their country s
peace unbroken, but in scarcely year OF
their lives is 1t not endangered, and not
a day can pass which is not disturbed
by the fearful note of preparation for
war; throughout the world, which some
writers still venture to recommend even
in editorial columns, as the best prevent
i've of war.
Peaceful arbitration has so far been the
chief agent of progress toward the reign
of peace and can be credited with having
already settled nearly 600 international
disputes. Secretary Root has broken all
records by negotiating "a of these settle
lrents. and for this and other important
services he deserves high place among
the workers for international peace. Such
treaties are not to be Judged solely by
their provisions. TheNs to which we have
referred are limited to ceNain subjects,
exclusive of others, but the average cit
izen knows little of treaty contents, and
hence the mere fact that his country has
agreed with another to settle some issues
peacefully inspires friendly feelings
which may some day count for much.
Again, statesmen, knowing that their
respective countries have agreed to set
tie some kinds of disputes peaceably, are
predisposed to follow that mode for the
settlement of others; therefore all
treaties whatever their limitations. make
for peace But arbitration of interna-
fjonal disputes has so far encountered a
serious obstacle nations have been and
still are indisposed to submit all disputes
10 arbitration. Although Belgium and
Holland Chile and the Argentine. Nor
way and Sweden have done so, one or
more exceptions are always made by the
chief nations, and these are fatal tn the
one indispensable change required--the
removal of the danger of war, without
which nothing vital is gained.
Many devoted disciples of peace were
seriously studying this feature of the
problem when the solution came unex-
pectedly In a fash of inspiration from no
less a ruler than President TAT, that re-
yealed the true path to the realization OF
reace on earth. Here is the inspired de-
ijverance before the Peace and Arbitra-
tion society in New York, on March %
1910, which we believe will remain men,
a orabe for untold ages and give the au-
thor rank among the immortals as one
of the foremost benefactors of his race:
personally, ] do not see any more
reason why matters of national honor
Ahould not be referred to a court Of ar
bitration than matters of property or OF
national proprietorship. I know that Is
going further than most men are willing
10 go, but do not see why questions of
honor may not be submitted to a tribunal
composed of men OF honor who under
stand questions of national honor, to
abide by their decision. as well as any
: other question or difference arising be-
I tween nations"
IN these few words President Taft be-
<<homes the leader Of the holy crusade