m^^^^ Hp^^ ^l^&\fiS^^^^^iPl^^^s ^s^fll ^^^^^g M p s 1 ! ^^s B ^^^^gm^ hmrI 1 BookiiSikP4L CoBTightN°_l_^]L5_ COPYRIGHT DEPOSHV THE PEACE CONFERENCE The Peace Conference A Poem by C. V. WHITE BOSTON RICHARD G. BADGER The Gorham Press 1905 Copyright 1905 by C. V. White All Rights Reserved LIBRARY of CONGRESS Two Copies ReceivMl JAN 3 1906 . Copyright Entry / CLASS A. XXC. No. C\ / J i'/A. 3 COPY B. 1*^05 Printed at THE GORHAM PRESS Boston, U. S. A. / ■ I DEDICATED TO THE AMERICAN DELEGATES OF THE INTERNATIONAL PEACE CONFERENCE, Called by the Emperor Nicholas II of Russia, and Opened at The Hague, May i8, 1899. Andrew D. White, Ambassador at Berlin, Stanford Newell, Minister at The Hague, Seth Low, Columbia University, Capt. A. T. Mahan, U. S. N., retired, Capt. William Crozier, U. S. A., Fred W. Holls, Secretary, New York. THE PEACE CONFERENCE THE PEACE CONFERENCE THE PEACE CONFERENCE TIME— ANNO DOMINI, MDCCCXCIX PLACE— THE HAGUE The Powers are convened to consider the Czar's proposal for a general disarmament. There are present the Czar of Russia, the Emperor of Ger- many, the Queen of England, the Queen of Hol- land, the Mikado, the President of France, the President of the U. S., and numerous Ambassadors, Consuls, Secretaries, Messengers, etc. Rulers of States, Princes and Potentates, Whom seals and insignia adorn, All who parade a jeweled brow, All ye unto the purple born. All Royalties, attend me now. I bring to you A proclamation new, — A scheme whose purpose and intent Is to promote disarmament. THE PEACE CONFERENCE By virtue of having taken the initiative in the movement, the Czar presides, and outlines his pol- icy. Unto the end That Sovereigns may lend Their princely offices and state This glorious scheme to consummate. The Czar has a dream of Universal Peace and incidentally suggests the Millennium. That wars may cease, And Universal Peace May bear the message of her birth, And spread her blessings o'er the earth. Spero meliora. I would disband The troops In every land; And Arms I would eliminate From Principality and State. 10 I THE PEACE CONFERENCE I would confine The navies, yours and mine, And put a limitation both On their continuance and growth. I would discard Those instruments abhorred, Which, in a moment of held breath, Can send a thousand souls to death. I would create A Board to arbitrate, Than which Tribunal there should be None higher in authority. I would intrust This Body to adjust All disagreements that arise. And all disputes to harmonize. To apprehend A failure in the end. To give ourselves to doubts and fears, Is wisdom learned not of our years. II THE PEACE CONFERENCE And to endure An evil we could cure, Is unpropltious to our star, Unworthy of the kings we are. Noblesse oblige. Since we by fate Are called to high estate, — Since we are overlords of all, Regents of wood, rulers of wall, — Let us discharge Unto the world at large, With heart and spirit free and frank, The obligations of our rank. Upon us too, Upon us too, As kings and princes true. As guardians of the peace devolves 12 THE PEACE CONFERENCE We should give heed To every want and need; We should ameliorate all woe, And reconcile foe unto foe. This is indeed My doctrine and my creed ; And be it voted down today, Or be the issue what it may, — Here I commit And pledge myself to it ; And frankly I demand and ask Co-operation in the task. John Bull. The Powers seek to controvert the Czar's argument, and cite past incidents in defense of the institution of war. Would Pyramid Have risen as it did, Or Sphinx, that lone guardian of graves. Had Egypt's kings not had their slaves ? 13 THE PEACE CONFERENCE Ivanovitch. There hangs and drops Around the great Cheops, Thought such as move to the sublime, And mystery as outlives Time. The Czar shozcs the total indiference of the rulers to the condition of their captives, whom they made slaves. The Pharoahs, Under whom they arose. Heard not the curses of their slaves Pronounced upon their sumptuous graves. The mrath of the Lord is kindled against Pha- roah. The Rod, in the hands of Moses, becomes an avenger. Would the Lord God Have given to the Rod The power to make the waters part Had Pharoah hardened not his heart? 14 THE PEACE CONFERENCE The Mikado. The infidel raises a question of morals. Where would have been Redress for Helen's sin, Had no appeal to arms been made, And had the gods not given aid? Ivanovitch. Had she not flown We never would have known The epic and the verse supreme, For Homer would have had no theme. Her guilt is part Of learning and of art; Nor could less beauty than was hers Inspire the Greek hexameters. Sanctioned by gods And goddesses, whose nods Inflamed the brave Achilles' wrath. Or marked Ulysses' wandering path, — 15 THE PEACE CONFERENCE Casus belli. If punishment For sin was ever sent, If war was ever justified, It was the one for Helen tried. But curse the dower Of Beauty and its power; Cursed be the man and his caress, And cursed be her unfaithfulness. Brother Jonathan. Would Persia proud The Grecian seas have ploughed. Had she not thought her armament Surpassing and omnipotent? Ivanovitch. Darius bore, And Xerxes even more, ,Such hatred to the Grecian states As tempted them unto their fates. i6 — THE PEACE CONFERENCE It was decreed That Asia should be freed From bigotry and despotism, From occult myth and mysticism. Jean Crapaud. If for his son Philip, of Macedon, Had not prepared and formed the State, Would Alexander have been Great? Ivanovitch. In anv age On History's written page. Would Phillip's son have left his name, And himself given unto fame. His was a mind Unto the great inclined; A soul possessed in high degree Of every princely quality. 17 THE PEACE CONFERENCE To boastings true He boldly marched into The temple of the god divine, And forced an answer from the shrine. He pulled down towns, And took from kings their crowns; He took from them their priceless gem, Yea, by his strength he plundered them. And conquering still. At pleasure and at will, He marched unto Arbela's plain, And broke the despot's power in twain. Though in his path There followed curse and wrath, Yet learning and enlightenment Were introduced where'er he went. Thus have reforms Been wrought by force of arms; Thus has enlightenment been spread, ^nd carried to the living dead. i8 THE PEACE CONFERENCE Cousin Michael. Should conquests stir The calm philosopher, Or yet the gleam of blade or steel, Rouse in the orator new zeal ? Ivanovitch. Peace may engage Philosopher and sage, But look to see the orator Moving Assemblies unto war. And one of these Was that Demosthenes, Who, scorning Macedonian bribes. Broke into bitter diatribes. His mind foresaw The subtle scheme to draw, And Hellas to assimiliate Into the Macedonian State. 19 THE PEACE CONFERENCE But matchless art, Outpoured from patriot heart, Could not turn back the bayonet, Nor Phillip from his purpose set. John Bull. When Carthage rose In might against her foes, Themselves allies and friends of Rome, Could Roman troops remain at home? Ivanovitch. Than Sicily. Pride of the Inland Sea, The eye of mortal never scanned A fairer or a richer land. With such a prize Before their covetous eyes, Neither Rome nor Carthage could restrain Her love of conquest and of gain. 20 THE PEACE CONFERENCE It was Rome's boast That never, though she lost, Had she deserted faithful friend, Or failed her allies aid to lend. On this pretext, Professing to be vexed. She marshaled out her chivalry To drive the foe from Sicily The circumstance, With deep significance, And far-reaching results was fraught Unknown at the time, and unthought. It marked Rome's first Insatiable greed and thirst, Her first ambition and desire For foreign conquest, world empire. Thrice was it waged, And thrice hell fairly raged Between the boasted sons of Mars And Carthage, no less famed in wars. 21 THE PEACE CONFERENCE Perchance 'twas fought That the world might be brought Resourceful Hannibal to know, Or the genius of a Scipio ; Howe'er this be, This bygone century. This age of war. and hate, and strife With might}' men and deeds is rife ; It gives to us Immortal Regulus, Sublime in courage when he went To torture and death-punishment. It tells us how The passion and the vow Great Hannibal did dedicate From earlv infancv to hate. 22 THE PEACE CONFERENCE Delenda Karthago est! It tells how great Was the censor Cato's hate When he, unto the Roman world, "Delenda est Karthago" hurled. It tells how brave Those women were who gave Their glorious locks to cut and braid For Carthage's defense and aid. Mynheer Closh. If no appeal Had been to arms or steel. Would Caesar still have shown his might, Or Rome have risen to such height? Ivanovitch. In any chance. Or adverse circumstance, The Ccesar would have mastered fate, For he was destined to be Great. 23 THE PEACE CONFERENCE And Heav'n had willed That Rome, the seven-hilled, Should rise from that proud eminence To pow'r and great magnificence ; To might and pow'r Unknown until that hour. When Roman standards were unfurled, And Empire claimed o'er all the world. It Is not strange Within this world of change, That, having run their little day, Kingsdoms and states should pass away; Fuit Ilium. But when the eye Beholds such glories die. Such grandeur and such splendors fade. As the Eternal Rome displayed, — 24 THE PEACE CONFERENCE Like Scipio We marvel at the blow, And ask, with feelings insecure. How long our Kingsdoms will endure. Brother Jonathan. The Gothic host, The European ghost. Say, where would they have found a home. Had they not wrested it from Rome? Ivanovitch. Like unto wine, (Sweet product of the vine!) Fermenting till it overruns, Were Goths, and Visigoths, and Huns. The age was crude. The men and manners rude, And warring was the prop and stay Of states and kingdoms in that day. 25 THE PEACE CONFERENCE Cousin Michael. When to the Moor The Christians left their shore, How could the valiant Charles Martel Unarmed, turned back the Infidel? Ivanovitch. He has done well, Has noble Charles Martel; He who could strike the Saracen A blow that seemed the strength of ten. It was a test In which was manifest The power of the Holy Ghost Over Mohammed and his host. The Infidel. When William claimed That The Confessor named Him heir unto the English throne, Coukl Saxon set aside their own? 26 THE PEACE CONFERENCE Ivanovitch, The Duke was bold Such promise to uphold, And by the force of blade and blood, To dare to make his title good. But England's need Was growing great indeed, For such a strong hand to protect. And such a leader to direct. For lowly churl Would not obey his earl, And Saxon Harold was too weak To hold the doughty lords in check. The Mikado. Without the aid Of arms, how could the Maid Have realized her hopes and dreams. And crowned the Dauphin, King, at Reims? 27 THE PEACE CONFERENCE Ivanovitch. Joan of Arc Saw visions in the dark, — Heard Voices bidding her advance To the deliverance of France. No matter which, Saint, heretic, or witch, The fair Pucelle was under a spell Which served her cause and country well. Her zeal inspired, And the French nation fired, With enthusiasm to a degree That won a glorious victory. John Bull. When Spain with curse, And Inquisition worse, Sent the Armada forth in might, Had England aught to do but fight? 28 THE PEACE CONFERENCE Ivanovitch. In danger's hour It is the right of Power, And of the Sovereign, State, or Lord, The people to protect and guard. Brother Jonathan. When stamps were sent For deed and document, — When troops and brigantines of hire Were sent to do the King's desire. In honor then To country, God, and men, Pray, what could Congress do but charge Cursed tyranny against King George? Ivanovitch. When it was thus When tax iniquitous Was forced upon the Colonist, It was his duty to resist. 29 THE PEACE CONFERENCE For it Is just When Kings betray their trust, When Tyranny perverts the laws. To take up arms in Freedom's cause. The Infidel. Excitement runs riot. The delegates are upon their feet gesticulating, and vociferating wildly. With Spain harassed. And with the Tiber passed, With Austria battling for her claims, And Moscow given to the flames, — Mynheer Closh. The Czar zainly endeazors to command order. With Prussia rent. And in a wild ferment, — Brother Jonathan. With England given to alarms. What could the Powers but take up arms? 30 THE PEACE CONFERENCE John Bull. And what recourse, Except to arms and force, Had England when her foes approached? Jean Crapaud. Had France when England's power encroached? Shade of Jefferson Davis, When in the South It ran from mouth to mouth. Of how the North had sworn to free. And give the black man liberty, — Shade of Abraham Lincoln. When in the North The cry and word went forth, Of how the South was up in arms. And beating drums, and sounding 'larms. 31 THE PEACE CONFERENCE Ye gods, declare If other way was there! John Bull. Aye, England found another way, But yet the price of blood would pay I 32 THE PEACE CONFERENCE Dea ex Machina. At this juncture a figure clad in soft flowing robes of white, wearing a laurel wreath upon her brow, and bearing a spray of palm in her extended right hand, enters the Council Hall, and walks ma- jestically to the throne. I bring to you A new command and true, — The Vision that the Prophet saw, The Voice the son of Amos heard, — From Zion shall go forth the Law, And from Jerusalem the Word. This is the Law, — Your swords ye shall not draw. For they who take the sword and fight Shall perish of the sword's own might. There are two fears That haunt man through his years ; Two mysteries confusing brain. Two cruelties producing pain. 33 THE PEACE CONFEREN'CE The mystery Of nature's cruelty, Such as when Etna's mountain glows With flame of earth's conv^ulsive throes. And ever near Is the disturbing fear, That, challenging his God and fate, Man will return to savage state. But Etna's fire With fear should not inspire; Nor is it part of God's wise plan That man should fear his brother man. Curse on the age That lent itself to rage, When brothers took their battle-stand, And fought their brothers hand to hand. Curse on the part That new inventive art Has in creating rivalry, Aijd increase of mortality. 34 THE PEACE CONFERENCE Tempora Mutantur. As alchemy To modern chemistry, — As was old astrology Unto the new astronomy, — So even are The olden modes of war — The spear, the arrow, and the bow — Unto the perfect means we know. A curse upon The rapid-firing gun ! On the inhuman dumdum's throes. On submarines, and torpedoes ! When Cuba, foiled. For Freedom toiled and toiled. Uprose a Nation in her might And joined the weaker in the fight. 35 THE PEACE CONFERENCE And e'en today There may be those to say, That it was all humanity, And libert}', and Cuba free. But if ye must Lay in the dirt and dust, One man to set another free, Pray, where is the humanity? For at command Many, within that land, Have laid aside forevermore The arms and weapons that they bore. Fides Punic a. The contest o'er Linger ye on the Shore To show that your humanity Was but pretence and mockery? 36 THE PEACE CONFERENCE The evil genius of France. In this same hour Behold a Nation's power, Employed to her eternal hurt The ends of justice to pervert. A secret sold, By some one learned and told. The perjury of witnesses. Atonement for a crime not his. Alas! in France Has he no hope or chance. Against the lies and perjuries Of his determined enemies? Is death, slow death By pestilential breath, Upon the Devil's lonely Isle, The fate reserved for one so vile? 37 THE PEACE CONFERENCE Are arms the cause, Perversion of the laws, Connivance of the Government To shield the ones not innocent? When, when will cease This menace to your peace? When will ye break the strain and stress, And spirit of aggressiveness? How long, how long, Will ye behold the strong Do causeless battle with the weak. And on them dreadful vengeance wreak? This is the Word, — Behold the living Lord Shall come in Peace and Righteousness, His people to redeem and bless. And in that day Many shall come and say, Let us go up to our reward. Unto the mountain of the Lord; 38 THE PEACE CONFERENCE The Prophet of Israel. Nation shall not 'Gainst Nation rise and plot; Their land shall not run red with gore, Nor shall they learn war any more ; Their pointed spears That brought to foes such fears, And humbled many lofty looks, Shall be made into pruning hooks; And they shall beat Their swords beneath their feet; And of them peaceful plowshares form When all the nations shall disarm ; When to His ain The King shall come again. The nations He shall judge among, And shall rebuke them of their wrong; 39 THE PEACE CONFERENCE And in that day Forsooth, shall pass away, The burden of distrust and hate Of England's foe across the Strait ; The Powers then, Shall not, please God and men. Oppressed, benighted China land Partition with their ruthless hand; The Northern Bear Shall hearken to the prayer, And shall no more oppress the Finns, But shall repent him of his sins ; Siberia vast He shall not hold so fast; And troops he shall not mobolize, E'en though Korea be the prize; The Japanese Beyond their inland seas Shall not adventure forth to fight. However just their cause or right; 40 THE PEACE CONFERENCE Nor shall the Boer Be driven from his Shore ; For England's onward march shall cease, When she has learned the joys of peace; The Infidel Shall come beneath the spell, And all despoiliation cease Of ancient Art, of modern Greece ; And there shall sound O'er Pyramid and Mound, O'er watchful Sphinx, and silent Tomb, To the Invader's march the doom; That day shall bring. As though on angel wing, The Inspiration and the word. To kindred Kaffir and to Kurd. To sate the greed. To take beyond the need, To dupe and overreach Is base, E'en In the meanest of the race; 41 THE PEACE CONFERENCE But when the Kings Resort unto such things, How much more reprehensible ! How much more indefensible ! And every strife Has cost us many a life; And words that rose with heated breath, Have signed many a soul to death. How vain, how vain, It is to strive for gain. For that which marks the beast and brute Is not a kingly attribute. The Heav'n for height, The sun and stars for light, The mountain for its mist and snow, The sea for ceaseless ebb and flow, — The foam to curl. The oyster for its pearl, The shell to whisper of the sea. And reproduce its melody, — 42 THE PEACE CONFERENCE The Spring for birth, The Summer for its mirth, The Autumn for its death and dearth. The Winter for its home and hearth, — The line for length, The circle for its strength. The square and cube for symmetry, And space for all eternity, — The plane to slope. The entering wedge to ope, The cog to take the water's drift. The turning of the screw to lift, — The camel for The desert sand and bar. The ship to plough with restless keel. The track to span the earth with steel,- The chrysalis For metamorphosis, The cocoon for the finest silk. The mother for the offspring's milk, — 43 THE PEACE CONFERENCE The soul to long, The heart to burst in song, The mind to reason and adjust, The body to return to dust, — Mankind to give While he doth move and live His days to glorify and bless The Prince of Peace and Righteousness,- Kings their high place To occupy by grace, And to inspire to noble things, Serving alone the King of Kings; And in their zeal To make known and reveal The essence of Divinity That leaveneth their destiny. Lord God, we pray. Reveal Thyself today, And in Thy boundless love and might The nations of the world unite. 44 THE PEACE CONFERENCE That wars may cease, And Universal Peace May bear the message of her birth, And spread her blessings o'er the earth. 45 THE PEACE CONFERENCE L'ENVOI Lord God, endow Us with Thy blessing now, And plenteous Peace the whole world o'er Establish Thou forevermore! 46 JAN B 1906