The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-12

With two-thirds Of the world al
war, why should we observe Peace
Day? For a dozen years past, the
schools of this country and Of other
countries have set aside May Is for
the purpose of concentrating atten-
ton on the Significance of the work
OF the Hague Peace Conference. But
with the threatened breakdown of
civilization in Europe today, the
manhood of the nations shattered,
homes ruined, productive energy di-
verted to the one task Of killing,
does it not appear that the Peace
Conference is out of joint with the
times? Under the circumstances,
would 1t not be well to suspend the
customary reference to this event
this year?
Quite the contrary; the system Of
law which The Hague Conference
stands for offers the only hope to
war-stricken Europe. This common
tribunal is the only light upon the
horizon, and it is the duty of US all
to keep this light burning. The open
ing of the First Hague Peace Confer
ence on May IS, 1899. is, without
doubt, the starting point and the CEN
ter Of International progress. This
Conference is described by interna-
tional jurists and statesmen as the
beginning Of a new epoch for inter
national law and International rela-
lions. This and the Second Hague
Conference, which met on June Is,
1907, have forced the recognition of
the principle that the establishment
Of equitable law is an essential to
the realization Of peace. Moreover,
the achievements of the Conferences
have impressed the world with the
possibility and the desirability Of
making the practice of civilized ma
lions conform to their peaceful pro-
fessions." The hope of civilization
lies in the progressive effort which
has given to the family Of nations the
germ Of an international law-making
body. Law is the only substitute for
war.
The present is not time for hope
less detection, In spite Of the momen-
tous struggle across the water which
seems to demonstrate the overturn-
ing Of international law Upon close
examination we SOC signs IT very
great progress. Almost all the Euro
pean Powers proposed recourse to
The Hague Tribunal or to a confer
ence OF interested Powers to avoid
war, and when this was not success
ful every DC gc:e"' government,
without exception, published its rea-
sons for going to war, according to
The Hague Convention. This appeal
to the public opinion of mankind has
no historical precedent. Never be-
fore have the nations on such a
broad scale fought to justify their
actions at the bar of this tribunal.
Our task Il &c strengthen pablo
opinion, which is the only practical
bic sanction for International law.
Nothing Is more conspicuous In the
present war than the sensitiveness o:
the belligerents to the charges Of
treaties and the established law of
nations. No branch OF international
law in this war will pass unnoticed.
The combined action of modern pow
g., represented cbieny by The Hague
Conferences, has developed this sense
OF reSponsibility-a great step in
world progress; and it is not a mere
superstition to expect that one out
come OF the peace settlement confer
ence will be the recognition that VIC
lation Of international law is a legal
injury to evtrv nation. The present
sensitiveness should develop into
conscience, 80 that the peace which
ends this unfortunate war and the
means taken to prevent the violation
Of its terms will make a new era in
International relations. his peace,
which follows the Peace Of Westpha-
liza in 1913, the eace Of Utrecht in
1713, and the Treaty OF Vienna in
1915, the three celebrated cases Of
combined European action, should
usher in an era Of law which, as Mr..
Root says, will "constrain ma
tions to conduct based upon princi-
pies Of justice and humanity"
This should be the great step for
ward. This is the only compensation
for the terrible interruption Of the
processes Of civilization. Should not
the celebration of Peace Day this
year clothe with new significance
the meaning of arbitration, media
ton, investigation and conciuiation
for preventing destructive warfare?
One might well include in this OBJ
servance a description Of the perma-
nent Court of Arbitration at The
Hague and show its effectiveness In
settling the fifteen important cases
which have been taken before 1t since
1902. The formation of real world
court, 80 nearly accomplished at the
Second Hague Conference, should al
50 be emphasized as an ideal for
which the world has hoped and wait
cd. A Peace Day exercise in the