The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-08-04
GRAY PRAISES
(continued From Page one1

upon the broad view taken of interna-
tional affairs and the consideration ex-
pressed for humanity at large as well
as our own immediate welfare. Your
declaration for congress Of neutral
nations is along the lines and in keep
ing with the plan offered by the advo-
Gates of the world court. The world
court, the United States of the World,
and other international bodies propos-
ed under different names, all a part of
the same general movement to pro-
vide for international peace, and while
differing in form are for the one pur.
pose of substituting reason and equity
among nations for force and might and
devastating warfare in the settlement
Of disputes.
Move is imperative.
Such world union or international
body is being realized to be as impera-
tive for the solution of world prob
lens and adjustment of disputes be-
tween nations as states are necessary
for the determination of questions
arising between individuals under local
government. AS our union was framed
to promote domestic tranquility, so
such world union is called for to in
sure international peace and order The
congress of neutral nations which you
approve in your resolutions is a step
toward the world court and nation, and
if established would go far to pave the
way for the creation Of an information
al body for the settlement of disputes
between nations by judicial decisions
instead of war and bloodshed.
The ultimatum, long used and still
resorted to among nations in the de-
termination Of disputes, is relic of
past and less civilized age. 1t is a
challenge which, regardless of the
merits OF the claim or demand. no ma
ton, after delivering, can recede from
and maintain its honor, nor after re-
ceiving can comply with without suf-
fering humiliation and disgrace. In
other words, the ultimatum leaves no
self-respecting course or alternative for
either of the disputing nations but
war. Its use precludes further nego-
tiations and opportunities for peace
and only makes war more absolute and
| certain. But every nation can accept
and abide by the decision of the world
| court without sacrifice of honor or
pride. The nation making the demand
can accept the decision in fulfillment
of the high duty of observing law and
order and gain by the act even more
| exalted honor. and the nation upon
which the claim is made can accept
the decree Of the world court as ju-
cicial determination and hold the re-
spect of the world.
| World Must Act.
| The time is coming when the world
can not more permit every nation, each
for itself, to settle it's disputes by war
than state can permit the settlement
Of disputes between individuals them
selves by physical force: when one ma
ton can no more afford to take up
s:ngly the settlement of its disputes
with another nation than each indi-
vidual citizen can afford to take law
in his own hands for the settlement of
every difference arising between him
and other individuals; when the world
of nations will no more tolerate bel
| ligerents to make the high seas a war
2, ne for combat with their antagonists
and incidentally for encroachment up
on and the destruction Of the rights
of neutral nations, than a civilized
state could tolerate a highway to be
made prize ring or used as place by
! individuals to settle their differences
by force.
Your endorsement of the principles
Of the world court or nation will help
to mould public opinion and thereby to
shape the policy of our government
relative to foreign affairs, and the
course of this nation thus prompted
will hasten the approval and accept
ance of such an international body by
other powers. In this crisis of nations
our example is Of vital influence be-
fore the world, and while insisting up
on respect for our rights from all the
belligerent powers we should exhaust
every means and effort to preserve
peace and avert war.
In the meantime. and until the es.
Enlistment of such an international
union, and while each nation must still
undertake separately and for itself its
own defense and the vindication Of its
rights, unwavering support of the gov
crnment in the course pursued under
the existing order of things is the
fret ond hioheef dntv If citizen Shi n