Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-05-04
Impartial Arbitration
BY w. j. BRYAN.

IA speech delivered before the
/ Inter Union. in Lon.
/ den, July 20. 1906. On resolution IN
i tr0duced by AIR Bryan asking for an
international commission OF inquiry
or the mediation Of friendly powers,
IN case Of disputes between nations
The first advantage of this resolu-
ton Is that il secures an investiga-
Iion OF the facts. and II you can but
I separate the facts from the question
] of honor, the chances are one hun
dred to one that you can settle both
the fact and the question of honor
without war. There is, therefore,
i great advantage in an Investigation
that brings OUT the facts, for disputed
facts between nations. as between
friends, are the cause Of most dis
agreements. =.
! The second advantage of this in.
yestIgation is that it gives time for
calm consideration. That has already
been well presented by the gentle
man who has preceded me. j need
not say TO you that man excited is a
very different animal from man cain,
{ ana that questions ought to be set
tied not by passion but by delibera-
ton. If this resolution would do
| nothing else but give time for reflec-
tion and liberation. there would be
sufficient reason for its adoption If
we can but stay the hand Of war un-
ltil conscience can assert itself, war
will be made more remote, When
men are mad they swagger around
and tell what they can do; when they
] are calm they consider what they
ought to do.
The third advantage of this inyesti
CATION is that II gives opportunity to
mobilize public opinion for the COM.
! polling of a peaceful settlement. and
that is an advantage not to be over.
looked Public. opinion is coming TO.
be more and more power In the
world One of the greatest statesmen
OF my country Thomas Jefferson,
and, If it would not offend, | would
say | beiieys him to be the greatest
| said that If he had to choose between
a government without newspapers
and newspapers without govern,
ment, he would rather risk the news
papers without government. You,
may call it an extravagant statement,
and yet 1t presents an idea, and that
idea Is that public opinion is con-
! trolling force. / am glad that the
time is coming when public opinion
is to be more and more powerful;
glad that the time is coming when the
moral sentiment of one nation will
influence the action of other nations;
glad that the time is coming when
the world will realize that a war be-
tween two nations affects others than
the nations involved glad that the
time is coming when the world will
insist that nations settle their differ.
ences by some peaceful means IL
time Is given for the marshaiing Of
the force Of public opinion, peace will
be promoted. This resolution is pre-
scented, therefore, forstbe reason that
1t gives an opportunity ito Investigate
the facts and to separate them from
the question of honor, that it gives
time for the calming of passion. and
that it gives time for the formation
Of controlling public sentiment.
viii not disguise the fact that /
consider this resolution long step
IN the direction of peace, nor will II
disguise the fact that i am here be-
cause want this Inter Parliamentary
Onion to take Just as long q step as
possible in the direction of universal
peace. We meet in famous hall.
and looking down upon us from these
walls are pictures that illustrate NOT
only the glory that is to be won in
war, but the horrors that follow war.
There is q picture Of one OF the great
figures in English history tpointingl
to the fresco by Maciise Of the death
of Nelson) Lord Nelson is repre-
scented as dying. and around him are
the smangled forms of others / un-
derstand that war brings out certain
virtues. am aware that it gives op-
portunity for the display of great pa
triotism; am aware that the exam
pie of men who give their lives for
their country is inspiring; but / ven
| ture to say there is as much inspira-
tfon in noble life as there is in a.
heroic death, and | trust that one OF
the results of this Inter.P Parliament
airy Union will be to emphasize the
doctrine that a life devoted to the
public, and ever flowing, like spring,
with good, exerts an influence upon
the human race and upon the destiny
of the world as great as any death in
war. And If you will premit me to
mention one whose career watched
| with interest and whose pane re-.
we're, viii say that, in my humble
judgment, the GA years of spotless
public service of William Ewart Glad
stone will. in years to come, be re-.
garded as as rich an ornament to the
history of this nation as the life of
any man who poured out his blood
upon a battlefield :
All movements in the interest of
peace have back of them the idea of
brotherhood. If peace is to come in
this world, it will come because peo-