A Great Achievement

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 1, 1872

A Great Achievement.

On the 14th inst. was consummated, in a small, select assembly, at Geneva, one of the most remarkable achievements in the civil history of the world—the arbitration of the dispute between England and America.

The telegraph reports that at 12½ o’clock met “the five arbitrators, the agents of the respective governments, several of the counsel, twelve ladies, and ten journalists.” But no assembly of kings in Europe has done a sublimer work than this little congress of peacemakers.

It was well that, as the telegraph says, guns were fired in Geneva at the close of the session, in honor of its great results. It was the best use of powder—not for the victories of war, but for those of peace.

The Geneva Arbitration has averted disturbances which might have shaken both hemispheres. It is the triumph of reason over the barbarism of the sword. It makes an epoch in international policy, and is the greatest achievement yet made by the peace reformers; for it is doubtless owing to the progress which their opinions have made, in spite of the multiplicity of modern wars, that this great measure has been found practicable.

As an example, it is infinitely more important than in its immediate results. On receiving the news of its decision, the London Times said: “Willingly will we consent to pay this sum to improve the law of nations.” A similar utterance respecting the satisfaction of our own government with the award is attributed to President Grant, at the reception of the news in Washington. The people of this country will quite universally share the President’s sentiment.

The amount of the award—fifteen and a half millions in gold—is sufficiently large to be satisfactory to us, while it is not large enough to embitter the submission of the British people, to render them hostile to the future reference of such questions to similar tribunals.

Good sense and the best moral sentiment seem to have prevailed throughout the deliberations of the arbitrators. They were conscious that they were doing a benign and momentous work, not merely for England and America, but for all nations and all time. They have done it well, and it will take its place on the best page of modern history. Civilized nations will have to respect its example in their future disagreements. It has demonstrated that there is a better method of deciding international differences than the slaughter and vandalism of armies. Modern civic life hinges on the industrial pursuits of the people. Modern international relations hinge on commerce. Peace is requisite for both, as war is the deadliest enemy of both. The mass of the people, therefore, have more than ever an interest in the maintenance of peace, and the popular opinion must more than ever influence the international policy of governments. Whatever may be the passions of rulers, the people will, hereafter, point to the example at Geneva as their own policy for the protection of their industries and the lives of their youth against the demands of war.—Methodist.