Newark post., 1911-05-03

tafy OF the American school 1eact
League. She gives as the motto: My
country is The word, my countrymen
are all mankind The work is pre-
pared for the use in schools on Peace
Day.
THE EIGHTEENTH OF MAY.
In 1900, on the eighteenth OF May,
an event took place which will always
be remembered as landmark in the
history of mankind. Unlike most of
the world happenings, this occasion at
fects equally every civilized nation on
the globe, and its is necessary there
fore, that everybody should under
stand its meaning. The anniversary OF
this event has already been observed
in many countries. and like Christmas,
the eighteenth OF May is destined to
become great international day,
which viii proclaim good will among
all men.
Curious as it may seem, it was the
Gar of Russia, the ruler OF the great
est military country in the world, who
brought about the occurrence of world
wide benetcience, whose scene was
laid in Holland. In August, 1898, peo-
pie ali over the world were surprised
by letter which the Gar addressed
to the nations who were represented
at the Russian Court. This letter was
an invitation to send delegates to a
meeting which should consider what
could be done to keep nations from
going to war with each other The
Gar stated in his letter that, for the
best welfare of the world the nations
ought 10 restrict themselves in the
spending OF such enormous sums Of
money for armies and navies.
THE CARS PLAN FOR PEACE.
The Gar has been considering this
who.e matter lor some time. He,
however, was not the only ruler who
had thought seriously about this con-
dirlon of affairs. and his invitation to
attend a peace conference met with
unanimous response. Every govern
ment invited accepted, and this in,
GUIDED all the nations of Europe,
twenty i'll number, four from Asia and
two IN America, The United States
and Mexico
On account of the unique nature OF
the conference, the Gar thought it
best not to hold it i'll the capital of any
one o. the Great Powers, where SO
many political interests are centered.
He felt that this might hinder the work
IN which al the countries OF the uni
verse were equally interested Ho-
land was selected as the country most
admirably adapted for such a meeting,
the land OF great historic records, the
Battlefield of Europe" as it is some
times called, but as truly known as
the Asylum of the world, where the
oppressed Of every nation have icunu
shelter and encouragement.
1t was announced to the governments
that the Queen of the Netherlands
would offer hospitality to the c.nler-
ence, and accordingly the Meth, rlands
minister of foreign affairs sent out a
formal invitation to The governmr nts TO
meet at the Hague.
CHOOSING AN UMPIRE.
The key to the whoe subject and
that which became the most important
part fthe program, is how to end a
dispute before war begins Many dif-
terences between nations have been
settled withour war by calling i'll a
third party, just as an umpire Oh the
bail field is called upon to decide which
side is i'll the right Wouldn't IL look
ridiculous if the two teams in d ba.
game should, every. time disputed
point arose, stop the game and go TO
lighting to settle the matter? And how
would 1t look To the spectators to see
the advantage given to a side mercy
because 1t was stronger in the list
scramble? And yet this is exact y what
nations do who go to war to settle
disputes How stupid to think that
might can settle who is right!
THE HAGUE COURT OF ARbl-
TRATION.
But the crowning glory Of the Com
mittee on Arbitration, and, indeed, OF
the first peace conference, was the rs-
tabishment of court where nations i'll
dispute could take their cases and have
them tried just as people living i'll the
various countries can refer their con-
troversies to the courts for settlement.
This court was to be the umpire OIL ar
bitter, and, therefore, 1t was called the
international Court OF Arbitration.
Since This is situated at The Hague. it
is sometimes called the Hague Court
or Arbitration. The Importance oi
this court was well understood by
those ftr-sighted statesmen, who adopt
ed every measure possible, which could
make the court useful to nations. They
passed rule, saying that it was the
duty TO each power to remind disput-
ants that the court existed. This has
well proved its worth, for since it was
opened in April, 1901, nearly every
great nation of the world has been be-
fore it. And the American people like
to remember that it was the United
States and Mexico rnat took the first
case there
THE PALACE OF PEACE.
We are glad to record, too, that this
great international assembly is to have
worthy building, called the palace
OF Peace which was made possible by