Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-09-07
THE PATHWAY OF PEACE

THE PATHWAY OF PEACE
Secretary Hughes addressed the
Canadian Bar Association this week.
on the subject: The Pathway OF
Peace" In doing this he happily re-
ferred to the words the late Presi-
before his death: Our protection is
in our fraternity, our armor is our
faith; the tie that binds more firmly
year by year is ever-increasing ac-
quaintance and comradeship through
the interchange of citizens; and the
compact is not of perishable parch-
ment, but of fair and honorable deal
ing which, God grant, shall continue
for all time"
The relations between Canada and
this country are almost ideal-there
are few If any who would venture
the prediction that we would be at
each others Threats in war-we have
been able to maintain just and hon.
orable dealing and each conserve the
interests of his country. Here, SO
far as it goes. may be found an ex-
ample of the pathway of peace. Here.
formed "the habits of peace; we
think in terms of peace. Differences
arise. but our confidence in each
others sense of justice and peaceful
intent remains mistaken and domin-
ates our purposes and plans. The only
pathway of peace is that in which
our peoples are walking together"
The speaker sees that inability to
maintain a just peace attests the
failure of civilization itself. He lacks
confidence in artificial contrivance to
prevent war. He notes that the war
to end war has left its curse Of hate,
that justification for war is easily
found by people in the mood for it.
The use of international force to Sc
cure peace would bring us ito the
fundamental necessity of common &C
cord"
Vie may SSIy oNOio NV ScAA
clusion that common accord, a COM
mon desire for peace and fair deal
ing are necessary to those who would
find a common pathway of peace,
that THE way to peace is through
agreement, not through force" One
must agree With the learned speaker
that: 1.-The question then is not Of
any ambitious general scheme to pre-
vent war, but simply of the constant
effort which is the highest task OF
craftsmanship in relation to every
possible cause Of strife, to diminish
among peoples the disposition to re-
sort to force and to find just and
reasonable basis of accord"
He would not have the discussion
of international relations revolve
about questions of policy and exped-
iency, but that there should be "a
determination to reestablish the law,
to quicken the sense of the obligation
of states under the law" He would
have the codification and develop
ment of law promoted. In this way
it appears he would hope to escape
in some degree the liabilities Of dam
ger at the hands of the demagoSues.
"There are," he added, to-day serious
questions between peoples which
ought to be taken up and settled in
order to heal fostering Sores" that
this is not done is in part through fear
of the political demagogue and the
partisan motives, and he went so far
as to declare: 1.-THE principle, each
nation for itself to the full extent Of
its power. is the principle of war, not
of peace"
1t will be well to bear that in mind.
Our own country may be put to the
test. In the matter of armament it
was and met the issue bravely. Sec
rotary Hughes laid the cards on the
table, and our country's offer to re-
linquish shamed others into meeting
the proposal halfway. The success
Of this undoubtedly encourages Sec
rotary Hughes to hope that in the
near future we may be able to do
something in the way of limiting our
economic rivalries, a delicate subject
but one which so often contributes to
the spirit of war. The Canadians
whom he was addressing doubtless
thought, as he spoke, Of the Canadian
attitude respecting the expectation OF
pulp, for instance, the pressure that
is being made in some Of the COM
mercial relations between that coun-
try and this. Be that as it may, Sec
rotary Hughes, as is his habit, spoke
wisely the vision of a far-seeing
statesman, for such he is.