Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-17

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- for which the world has long
1eya64lNk walted-the passing Of the glory
SD and prestige Of armed conflict.
For The Hague conference OF 1859 sounded
the moral doom OF war. Henceforth,
stripped Of its glamour. regulated by inter-
national agreement and hedged in by pre-
ventives. war will be regarded as de-.
plorable, II necessary, evil Even the great
armaments under which the nations stag
ger are vehemently declared to be a form
OF peace insurance; and surely the heavy
premiums paid attest the international
dread OF the conflict
But II the moral doom Of war has struck
its material doom IL the task Of the twen-
tisth century, and judged by the events of
Seeade. nobly has the century begun its
vosk
EVon the careless observer Of recent
events must observe IN the peace move
msnt new working principle, hitherto
somewhat obseured-that of practieality.
Idealism and sentiment have done a great
work in bringing about adherence OF war
and will take their part in the century to
come; but the Kaleidoscope changes and
striking anomalies Of the last decade have
brought out very strongly the need OF an
sense Eleven years have seen two Hague
conferences; eight cases OF arbitration car
ried to The Hague tribunal 100 treaties OF
International arbitration, some OF them OF
unlimited scope; sixty or more arbitratons
between nations; a great war brought to
an end and another probably aver.cG by
machinery made possible by The Hague
conference; and everywhere growing evil
M INT
step by step with the progress toward
p'aHe nave gone ever increasing armaments
uarl the world ErOans under their burdens.
what does it mean? Must armament keen
Face with arbitration7 II so. peace and
economic ruin are synonymous terms or
90 armREnents exist because as yet arbttra-
Non has SGferod no trustworthy substitute
this be true. the situation calls for calm
reasoning and practical institutions. Doubt
less present armaments are excessive; un-
quesuonably they are a crushing burden
economically they are open to justifiabIe
attack but II there any evidence that dis
armament of the nations toworraw would
spell peace? Are armaments not an eftee,
rather than a cause? And does net the
practical remedy lie rather in az inte~aa-
uonal court OF such character that IL wifi
attract an increasing number OF classes ~
cases while ornaments will become less
and less needed and finally. perhaps. use,
less?
When the first Hague conference created
the Hague court Il took the first ana
longest step in this practical campaign
The court was the most practical Instru.
rent the great minds OF the nation could
then devise; but like an new institutions
Il required time TO expose its defects
Tooay Its imperfectionH seem Rlarne; new,
er'heless. II hss attracted eight cases has
demonstrated the wisdom of its establish.
ment and more than this. At hus naved
she way for real International court Of
justice,
II further evidence is needed Of IN,
practical trend OF public thought il NAV
he fouRd In the scant notice given the sub,
tect OF disarmament IN the second Hag,,,
conferences and the great amount Of al,
tention given 10 the nropost ton. urged mos
emphaticalis by the delegates from IN,
bnited states Tor the establishment OF 4
judicial arbitration court. combining an IN,
advantages Of the existing Havue eour'
and overcoming It's obvious disadvantagss
court to consist OF approximately fiftesr
Judges mot diplomatic under salary PAID
BY the nations jointly, with annual sessions
ahd delegation always al The Hague AMI
ready for business. Tire existing court /,
unvieldly and hard 20 set into operation
FOR each case tribunal must be selected
from numerous PANEL tho arbitrator,
are paid by the ntlgant nations. and the
decision Il often compromise or a dNolo.
matte solution rather than q just verdict
What individual would rest easy with an
Important case In the hands Of a ioeal
court thus organisedg And yet The HaEus
court has been entrusted with international