The Irish standard., 1911-12-02
Cardinal Gibbons Thinks Arbitra-
ton Ought to be Break Water
Against War.
Is in Favor of General Arbitration
Principle as Means of Promot-
ing Peace.
Points to Horrors and Atrocities
of War as Reason Why it
Should be Abolished.

bons repeated what he has already
said on previous occasions on the
question of advancing world peace by
means of peace treaties. He said, in
part:
Il sincerely hope that the new ar
bitration treaties negotiated by our
national government with Great Brit
ain and France will be ratified by the
senate" said Cardinal Gibbons. "They
should receive the support of the
whole country. 1t is of the utmost i'm
pcrtnnco that civilized nations should
bind themselves in advance to submit
to arbitration all international ques-
tions which can be settled by the ap-
plication of principles of law and
equity, and | can soc no reason why
there should not be appointed Joint
commissions to investigate interna-
tional controversies and determines
whether particular questions are Of
such Il character, so that each nation
VIII Dc III iiOlloI DOunu TO summit
those issues to international arbtra-
tion rather than to resort to war.
THAT Idea represents the best spirit
Of the age. 1t has behind il the in-
dorsement Of the Christian world.
BreAkwater Against War ,-'''@'-'
Among the many advantages of in"
& OnO1 achif r. 1 IN
t. be Il serviceahle brcakwatcr against
war, because It's deliberate and orderly
procedure gives Il nations blood time
to cool. Formerly it was only neces-
snry to slap the face Of II foreign min
lister and that was considered a suf1i-
cient cnsus belli. Think of a condi-
ton In which n personal affront like
that was regarded as justification
foi the slaughter OF multitudes.
''Ducls between individuals were
once frequent in this country. Even
ir 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 nnd the duel has been rele-
nonstroslties.
Il do not see why the same inf7u-
cncc that led to the suppression of
dues between individuals should not
produce Il like result in the affairs of
nations which are simply uggrega-
tons of individuals. General interna-
tional arbitration treaties seem to me
to be the surcst and quickest means
through which the universal peace
may be effected, or at least ap-
preached.
Those at Home Suffer Most.
when we consider the evils of war
our eyes are directed almost exclu-
sIvely to the combatants themselves.
We have no thoughts for the noncom-
batants. The truth is that the most
frightful sufferings Of war are borne
by the wives and children of those
who fight in the field The bitter agony
OF their waiting and anxiety is far
worse than the mere physical hard
ships and sufferings OF the armed men.
"a wound to the loved one in battle
strikes more cruelty those who have
to wait at home. Physical suffering
| usually dissipates the fear Of death.
Men can suffer and die bravely in the
excitement 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.
1.-THE financial side of war, too, has
it's strong aspect. 1t is proper that
the world at large should have some-
thing to say about quarrels between
particular nations. The commerce of
nations is now so involved and related
that war between two nations is in
reference with all nations.
Loss of Life; Blow to Trade.
"For instance have 10000 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 equit-
able as well as humanitarian rights.
The result of war is not only loss
Of life but a partial paralysis of trade.