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Popular Talks On Law

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Parent Issue
Day
18
Month
November
Year
1891
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

A COÜBT FOR THE NATTONS.- (iradually there is Bhaptng it.sclf Ín the minda oí thinking mea throughout the civi'.ized worid, and oapecially in the miada of eminent men in the proiVssion of the iawt the Idea oí an international court oí justicc. It is be.likve.d it wlll be one of the crowning accomplishnients of the 20th oentury. As the union of the states of the American liepublic bocomes more and more a pronouncetl success in the evos of the world- forty or more 6tate in one, eaeh independent and yet dependent, each its own law maker and law interpreter, and yet yieldins an ever increasinK respect and oliedience to its great tribunal, the United Statea Bnpreoie CJourt - more and more are thinking men approaching the point when a general move ment will take place lor a ooort of all nations- a court in which all those questions, greit and small, wWch have given rise to war and its consequent horrors, and which now are threatening the peace of the world, l.ke so many smouldering canoes, may be amicably and pernianentty settled. üntil sorae suc-h consummution is reached, the miseries of enforcetl military eervioe, grevlous taxes, and the fhu-tuations ol values and the disturbaiu-.-s ui trade, duo to vhe ucees siiy. whlch may arlse at a.ny moment. ol 'war, remaln the herltage of oursvlves and uur childrell. Our OWn government at this moment aggriev1 at the action of Chili, and yet wlio is to decide where Justice resta ? Were It two contendim; individuáis, there is a safe tribunal wnich may peasonab:y be expeéted to decide between them. In the case oí a differenee between two nations. the stronger is rlzht, bi-cause the stronger. Might makes rlght in the s?ttlement of international disputes, and so it is considered necessary tor a aatton to inaintain its dignity that it ühould arm itsi'lf to the teeth, and thus win and inaintain by the leut it inspires, that whlch, in Btrlct Justlcei it mlght lose. The qnisiion has Ion;? been in the minds oí thinking men and in the dreama ol phiianthropists, but not until rvc-ntly has ii entered the tlomain oí 8 b and practical dision. 'lhat whi -h men have dreamed of, men are now activoly planning for. The eolminatlng sentiment of he bamiuct recently heM at a national gathering oí eminent lawycrs and was "aa international court of justin." The sentiment tras roceived with the greatesi enthusiasm, and discuseed, not as a íanclful picture, but .as a Uring thing whlch already has a worklng influence in the afiairs of the world. Ilmv iinmeasnrably jrrrat tli' blese ing to now from a peaceíul Bettlement by an impartial tribunal ol tbe quarre of nations. War as a weapon oí justice wonM fail. The immense standing armies of Europe would pass to the pumuits of peaco, and an ovcrbnrdened debt-driven people brèathe a freedom unkoown before. Our own country, as the great Jorerunner of civilization and progresa i" th ■ field of politics and law, as well as Bcience and Inventlon, should take the lead in this great vork. Man; ,rr the examples to be taken troon histoi-y ol the Boceesa of International arbitration. It wlll be fonnd to te no new tblng. It was tried In the settlement of disputes between the American colonies with anvarying success, partlng beUlgerent armies, and gettllng Corever without a blow. and on mntually satisfat-tory terras, bitter dispute as to boundaries and conflicting grants. Is the gonius of American Btatesmanshlp broad enough to compasa thás end? Perhaps when the petty conflicts of partirán strife, which have so mách tended to ln-ing into disrepute OUT American H.vstein of government, shall gio place to a broader and deeper statesmanship, and men shnll come to loarn moif tboroughly, as they are learning day by d:iy. thie areat and fundamental Idea Ol "tb iatlierhnod of God and ilie brotherhood of maai," then we niay look to be ushered into the golden 'aire of universal peace.

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Subjects
Old News
Ann Arbor Courier