Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-01-10
Law Over Pretense.

Frank Allaben, president Of the Ma
tional Historical Society. has written
IN ooen letter to Hon. John Barrett,
director general OF the Pan-American
Union. which furnishes much food for
thought 10 those Who think. The su-
pren2acy Of iaw over the iawiess pre-
fore humanity can escape the man
slaughter Of force Of arms, however
much we may cry peace. Mr. Ala
hen addressed Mr. Barrett as follows:
Your piez for the extension Of the
Monroe doctrine into Pan AMERICAN
doctrine deserves wide response.
Are NOT tHenty-one American Re
publics behind an American policy
better than one? Every great princi-
pie esta bl;shed among men attains by
natural development full fruition; and
a Pan American doctrine and policy
will but lift the vital principle Of the
Monroe doctrine. strengthened and
rnagnified, into the keeping Of twenty
one nations.
But can our American Republics
present a united from. against Old
wor,G aggression without a perfect
civil machinery to settle differences
between themselves? What power had
the Monroe doctrine when the COM
mon wealths Of the United Statea fell
into civil war? Did not foreign 6ayo-
nets enthrone d foreign despot in
Mexico And was it not only when
cur states were reunited that the in
vading mercenaries fed and Maxi
milan fell?
Is not, then an international SUI
preme court for the Western Hemis-
phere absolutely essential to shut out
the possibility Of destructive division
among our American Republics and
thus at all times maintain a united
strength against foreign aggression
urged this and outlined a plan in
September. 1914. in communication
in the New York Evening Post Of Oct
10. 1914. and in letter to the Pan
American Financial Conference last
spring. / DO not write. this letter 70
urge a need nov largely recognized:
nor to rehesrse details: but to point
out the hopeless impotence Of those
halfway measures toward which
cautious politics and diplomacy natur-
ally incline. In weak union there is
not strength. but new perils.
L. \ league has beer formed to ad
vpcate an International court and
compulsory arbitration: but this
worthy object is betrayed in a pro-
gram rendered worthless as a remedy
against war by the timid admission
that many causes Of war are nom
q judiciary questions. To admit war as
a Ia wful substitute for court-proce-
lutely fatal to the cause of law and
order. Knows international law a
greater enemy than the la wless pre-
tense that questions involving ma =
tional honor and national existence''
must be settled by war and not by
law? Is il not through this unlocked
door that all wars. including the most
unjustifiable, enter? What greedy
Ahab seizes a Naboth's vineyard with
out pretending that national honor
national existence" or national well
fare" compels the crime?
Stable peace will remain hopeless
dream until We outlaw the duello be-
tween nations as we have outla we'd it
! between men. Is it not astonishing
that. with murder and panslaughter
condemned by universal conscience,
we Yet so long maintained that aues-
tions of personal honor" between
gentlemen were better settled by man.
slaughter than by law and reason
And while we continue to legitimatize
the horrible duel between nations
justify nations in appealing questions
Of national honor to murderous
battle field instead Of to courts of
iaw-are we not still barbarous?
Let the peaceful Americans. at least,
awaken out of this nightmare. To
secure permanent peace under law,
through the rulings of an interna-
tional supreme court, we must decree
unfalteringly: ta) that no questions
shall be deemed on-judiciary save
those pertaining to the internal af-
fairs Of a nation. which lie beyond the