The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-21
WAR IS TEACHING
!. GOSPEL OF PEACE
IAwFULNEss OF SITUATION In ECU.
ROPE AUGURs BURIAL OF
FIGHTING SPIRIT.

f. Washington. Feb. 20.--The under
signed have been associated for some
years in the execution of trust to
promote international peace and our
duties have involved continual sur
vey Of the efforts to that end through
cut the world.
! We wish to say to ali friends of
peace that the dreadful war nod rag
ing affords no just cause for discour-
agement, no discredit to past efforts,
and no reason to doubt that still
greater efforts in the future may be
effective and useful.
] The war itself is teaching the gospel
/ OF peace through lesson so shock
ing and so terrible that the most in
different can not fail to attend and
understand 1t.
4 Not only have the destruction Of life.
the devastation and the suffering IN
the warning countries passed all ex-
perience, but the cessation of produce
ton, tho closing of markets. the
\ blocking of trade routes. the inter
ruption OF exchanges. have effected
Industry and caused ruin and poverty
}sn all the peaceful countries of the
world.
The universal interdependence OF
nations has been demonstrated and the
truth forced upon. every mind Thai
the peace of all nations is the vital
concern of every nation.
/ 10 cast our weak protest now among
| the tremendCus forces that are urging
on the great conflict would .be futile:
but the end of this war viii come be-
tore long and then the great question
Twill stand for answer:
! Shall the lesson be forgotten; the
sacrifice lost?
! That question the beiligcrent nations
only will have the power to answer:
but every enc in the world viii be
entitled to he heard upon 1t, for 1t
viii be question of civilization, the
most momeotous of our era.
II seems incredible that after this
the stricken people will set their rect
in the same old paths of policy and
suspicion which must lead them again
to the same result
Finding expression through a great
multitude of voices everywhere the
general public opinion Of mankind
should influence the minds of the ne
and inspire them TO new departure
in the establishment Of Jnsice as the
rule OF international relations.
I While we must not be overconfdcnt
of our individual methods through
which the result may be accomplished
we may still advocate measures which
seem practicable and appropriate to
the purpose.
We can see that definite rules OF
national conduct should be agreed
upon: that n court of competent juris
Giction should be fssta blieaed to fudge
of national conformity TO those rules;
and that new sanctions should be pro-
Nided to compel respect for judgments
rendered.
Above all the motive and spirit OF
the new institutions should lie clearly
and fully. not the promotion OF am
hilton or the extension of power, bu,
The safe guarding Of human rights
and the perfection of Individual ilber-
~.
Toward this high end sae cour-
age and hope and conviction OF the
humbiest citizen of the most distant
land may contribute,
JOSEPH II. CHOATE
ANDREW II. WHITE
JOHN W. FOSTER
ELIHU ROOT
LUKE F. WRIGHT
CHARLEMAGNE TOWER
ROBERT s. WOODWARD
AUSTEN O. FOX
JACOB q. SCHMIDI4ApP
THOMAS BURKE
ROBERT s. BRoOkfNGS
OSCAR s. STEAUS
SAMUEL MATHER
JAMES l.. SLADEN
JOHN SHARP WILLIAMS
CHARLES l.. TAYLOR
HENRY s. PRlTCHETT
WILLIAM NJ. HOWARD
CLEV EI+AND d. DODGE
ROBERT A. FRANKS
GEORGE w. PERKINS
NICHOLAS MURRAY BUTLER