The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-20
Venerable Churchman
Endorses Arbitration
Treaties.
REPRESENT BEST
SPIRIT OF AGE
Declares Deliberate and Orderly
Procedure Gives a Nations
Blood Time to Cool and Is
Serviceable Breakwater
Against War-Credit Be-
longs to United States.
BY JAMES CnEELMAS.

BY JAMES CREELMAS.
baltimore, November ls.-"I sincere
~ hope that the new arbitration
treaties negotiated by our national
government with Great Britain and
FRANCE VIII be ratified by the Senate"
said Cardinal Gibbons. They should
receive the support OF the whole coun
Try. 1t is OF the utmost Importance
tnat civilized nations should bind
themselves In advance to submit to
arbitration all international qucs-
tons which can be settled by the an
plicat'on of principles of law and
equity. and can see no reason why
there should not be appointed Joint
commissions to investigate interna-
tional controversies and determine
whether particular questions are of
such e character. so that each nation
Will be in honor bound to submit those
Issues TO international arbitration
rather than to resort to war. That
idea represents the best spirit of the
age II has behind 1t the Endorsement
OF the Christian world"
II was something to sit beside the
venerable primate of the Catholic
Church in America and hear him sound
again the call to international peace
that Is stirring the men and women
OF all civilized countries In his Bal
timore home. surrounded by memorials
OF his friends. dead and living. among
them the greatest and noblcst of
earth. he seemed SO frail so gentle,
so remote from the sordid strife and
ugly commonplaces of vulgar life. But
In spite of his seventy-seven years
and the sweetness and simplicity of
his life. Cardinal Gibbons seems as
much statesman churchman, and
there is singular and affecting d.
rectness in his manner, an unmis-
taxable, and sometimes dramatic, ring
OF American patriotism In what he
says and how he says 1t. When he
speaks of the present and future of
the United States his blue-gray eyes
light up with pride and love. his slen-
der fgurc grows more erect, his keen,
intellectual countenance shines with
enthusiasm. and his whole manner be-
trays the STRINGS of emotion. One
gets rare and lasting impression of
profound patriotism.
Man of the People.
The rain drifted mildly against the
windows as wa talked. yet even the
humblest pedestrians in the street
looked UP as they passed the white
haired cardinals house; for all the
princely scarlet of his dress, he is
recognized as man of the people
Aiming the many advantages of In
ternational arbitration" continued the
cardinal 1T reems TO me to be q very
serviceable breakwater against war,
because It's deliberate and orderly pro-
cedure gives nations blood time to
cool Formerly It was only necessary
TO slap the face of foreign minister
and that was considered a sufficient
casus belli Think of condition In
which a personal affront like that was
regarded as justification for the
slaughter OF multitudes!
"Duels between individuals were
once frequent in this country. Even in
the United States Senate and the
House OF Representatives an insult
would be followed by armed combat
The nation. however. has grown wiser
and better. and the duel has been rele-
gated to the museum of extinct social
monstrosities. do not see why the
same influence that led to the sup
preston of ducls between individuals
should not produce a like result in
the affairs OF nations which are
simply aggregations OF individuals.
General international arbitration
treaties seem to me to be the surcst
and quickest means through which
the universal peace may be effected,
or at least approached.
Evils of Wnr.
When we consider the evils of war
our eyes are directed almost exclusive
" TO the combatants themselves. We
have no thoughts for the non-com-
batants. The truth is that the most
frightful su0erings of war are borne
by the aIves and children of those
who fight in the field. The bitter ag-
ony of their waiting and anxiety is
far worse than the mere physical hard
ships and sufferings OF the armed men
q wound to the loved one in battle
strikes more cruelty those who have 10
wait at home. Physical suffering usu-
ally dissipates the fear OF death. Men
can suffer and die bravely in the eX-
element of war. but harder. much
harder. to bear is the moral agony OF
those who must wait, without power
to help their dear ones in danger.
The financial side of war. too. has
its strong aspect. 1t Is proper that
the world at large should have some
thing to say about quarrels between
nations is now so involved and re-
lated that war between two nations Is
an interference with all nations For
instance. have $4,000 invested in
German securities. Germany goes to
war. and I must suffer. although I
am an American citizen. International
efforts to prevent war rest upon equi-
table as well as humanitarian rights.
The result of war is not only a loss
of life. but also a partial paralysis OF
trade.
Penalties Too Great.
Men will not fight II they have time
to grow cool. Nations will not fight
If they have time to think. The PEN
alties and degradations of war are
too great, the agonies OF tho weak
and helpless. the aged and other non-
combatants are too horrible, the waste
of wealth. the destruction of indus
try and commerce are too vast. to be
endured when there is a way to peace.
am in favor of the general arbitra-
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