New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-27
Autocracies Called Menace
to Enforcement of Inter
national Law
Scraps Of Paper Cited
Sinister Policies Of Ambition
Not Entertained Where
People Rule

Washington, April 26. Elbu Eooi'
newly appointed head Of the American
commission to Russia. delivered here
to-day the opening address at the clev-
onth annual meeting Of the Society oil
international Law. OF which he is pres
don't
lie declared that in the spread Of
democracy lay the hope of a VARIES
future. in that international law could
not be conserved by o. imposed upon
autocratic nations. he SAID IN part:
"Tlre existence and assured continu-
ance of the process of development OF
democracy is the great fact forecastinr
the future conditions under which the
effort to rcinsta.e tho law Of nations Is
to he made.
"Wha. is to be the effect OF this
change in conditions upon the posi-.
blitv of making international law rela-
lively permanent? In considering TINS
ouestion some facts can be clearly per-
ceived.
THE substitution Of a democratic
for an autocratic regime removes the
chief force which in the past has led
nations to break over and destroy the
limitations of law; that Is. the prose
cution Of dynastic policies. Such poll
cies in general have in view the m
crease of territory, of dominion, OF
power for the ruler and the military
class or aristocracy which surrounds
the ruler and supports his throne. The
! benefit of the people who are ruled Is
only incidentally if at all-involyed.
Autocracies' Subjects Helpless
Against the deep and settled pur-
pose cf a ruling family or ruling
eristocratc class 10 enlarge its power,
continuing from generation TO genera
ton. usually concealed until the favor
,ble moment for action comes. always
Justified or excused by specious pre-
texts. the advocates of peace, of JUS
tice. or humanity or law are helpless.
All other causes Of war can be reached.
The Peace Conferences at the Hague
have sought to diminish the evil by
universal agreement upon rules of ac-
ton. The rules and the treaties have
become scraps Of paper
"The progress Of democracy. how
ever. is dealing with the problem by
destroying the type of government
which has shown itself incapable o.
maintaining respect for law and jus.
tice and resisting the temptations OF
ambition; and by substituting a new
form of government, which in rs
nature is incapable OF proceeding by
the same methods, and necessarily re-
spends to different motives and pursues
different objects from the old auto
cratic offenders.
"The most important difference pc
tween the two forms of government j.
that democracies are incapable of hold
ing or executing those sinister policies
of ambition which arc beyond the reach
cf argument and the control Of law.
A democracy cannot hold such policies.
because the open and public avowal ana
discussion which must precede their
adoption by a democracy is destructive
Of them; ard it cannot execute such
policies because il uniformly lacks the
kind Of disciplined efficiency necessary
TO diplomatic and military Alternatives:
The settled and continuous policies OF
a democracy are defensive.
Democracies Not Aggressive
"The incapacity of democracles TO
maintain policies Of aggression may be
fairly inferred from the extreme re-
Il