Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-07-22
Editors Letter Box
The War Question.

Editor Kennebec journal:
We profess to be seeking only justice;
and it is on this UNDERSTANDING that mil
lions of patriots are freely yielding up
their lives in this var. Let US therefore
adopt a platform of perfect international
justice, and propose il to Germany as a
solution Of the problem
Germany'S national AMBITION is eXpan-
sion by coercion: the Allies wish to CO.
cree Germany to abandon this. The peo-
pie OF Germany construe the situation to
be that they are attacked as nation.
This has aroused their patriotism till
they have arisen as one man and sue
ceedcd in organizing for defence the,
most wonderful aggregaiion ever known.
The best blood of the world is being
poured out like water, because people
one knows how long it will continue un-
der the present regime OF coercion:
When patriots of equal honesty Of pur-
pose are brought in contact 80 kill each
other for coercion it is nothing higher
than wholesale murder. Let. US therefore
propose platform of perfect justice. ami.
lift the War-making power. entirely. out
OF the realrp of coercion by vesting it In
Let Us make our platform perfectly
clean. so that even the enemy will know
that every soldier in the army OF the
Allies that falls falls for the cause CT
every one of their enemies that falls falls
for the purpose of perpetUating coercion.
Then how long will the war last? Surely
only very short time. Both sides ac-
claim that they seek only justice. so let
US propose il.
Overtures FOR peace on these lines would
be manifesc+ effective strategy. not only
terminating this war quickly. with honor
10 the Allies, but substituting justice for
war forever
% We recognize the moral law ex-
pounded by the Lord Jesus Christ as
binding upon nations. and therefore as
f-sr
tioral relationships must rest.
% Therefore no question Of interna-
tional dispute may be settled by force
of arms, but all such questions must be
settled judiciously in accordance with
this constitution. unless by mutual agree
nlent.
\ 80 The people Of any state.rnay be CO.
creed into annexation from c.e power TO
mpst first be expressed through ma
jority at an election. This does not ap-
ply to colonies open 10 settlement and
/ "a In order to settle all wrongs of the
past where coercion has been exercised,
all states or parts of states which have
been annexed against the will Of the resi-
dents must be restored TO their original
, allegiance, if it is still the desire Of such
residents: and they shall have the privi-
; lege of expressing this desire through a
majority at an election.
/ % 1t is expressly recognized that no
/.
ton to declare war upon another, or seek
: to settle any dispute other than through
negotiation. arbitration or adjudication.
t6) An in,erna tional council shall be
constituted in which all nations OF the
world are invited TO participate, which
shall assume Jurisdiction to deal with all
matters affecting the mutual rights of
nations upon the high seas. ard all mat
tiers of purely international concern.
Each nation shall vote in this council
in proportion 10 its population.
% The council shall create an inter
national court which shall have juris
/ rights of nations. and .2ny nation may
bring suit. in this ccurt AT any time
against any other, nation for any cause
Of. action whatsoever. The council shall
as safeguard ag4ssi miscarriage Of
justice; and the 'dec6.6n of the court of
appeal shall be final.
!. o9 The council shall provide ways and
means for executing the judgment OF its
courts. And if necessary may levy and
use armies and navies for this purpose.
tO Each nation Participating. in the
council shall be deemed to have bound
itself to carry out the decree ox the court
in all cases where the decree may 60
against them. And shall contribute to
the expenses of the lnterna tional' power
! in proportion to its population.
| Q0) No nation shall be deemed 20 have
night to employ an army or navy out
side its own territorial domains. or for
any other purpose than maintaining law
and order among its own people.
1D All questions arising out of the
present war shall he settled in accord
ance with this cons tuition. including the
/ amount OF indemnity, if any. payable in
any case.
l2) Any nation showing itself incap-
able of reasonably stable peaceable self
government may have its affairs admin
istered by the international council and
courts until such time as it shall have
become so capable. Otherwise the coun-
Gil or court shall not interfere with the
free exercise of government eli any ma
ton. Others please copy
JUSTIN GILBERT.
| Victoria. 2. c.. July. 1915.