328 SYMPOSIUM ON INTERNATIONAL LAW. 



organize justice by voluntarily accepting the limitations which it 

 imposes. 



There is, however, one means of promoting this result without a 

 resort to violence. When nations manifest fitness for admission 

 into the Society of Sovereign States, they are admitted to its privi- 

 leges. When they violate its laws, and by their conduct show their 

 unfitness for participation in it, why should they not be denied the 

 privilege of intercourse with civilized nations? 



There is, it is true, no central authority possessing the power to 

 render a sovereign state an outlaw ; but any government, in standing 

 for the maintenance of international law, or for the vindication of 

 its own rights under it, may, if it is willing to pay the cost, sever its 

 diplomatic and its trade relations with a persistent law-breaker. 



But the cost would often be considerable; and, judged from the 

 point of view of expediency, it requires either a serious ofifense or a 

 certain amount of courage to take such a step. But, without courage, 

 so long as savagery, brigandage, and imperial ambitions disturb the 

 peace and order of the world, there can be no international progress. 

 Whatever rights, or prestige, or influence any nation possesses to- 

 day, it enjoys because someone has defended them. 



The Duty of National Defense. 



And so, after a general survey of international relations, we are 

 forced to the conclusion, that, between submission to injustice and 

 the ability to defend the rights of a nation, there is no alternative. 

 But there is still another aspect of the subject. The maintenance 

 of the reign of law in the world against aggression and violence must 

 be regarded as a duty which every civilized nation owes to every 

 other, as well as to itself. International law is our law. We have 

 helped to make it ; we hold ourselves under obligation to observe it ; 

 and we cannot, without moral delinquency, refuse to defend it. 



So long as armed force is necessary to maintain human rights, it 

 is incumbent upon us to furnish our contingent for their defense. It 

 may be that a right course will be resented, and that the severance of 

 diplomatic and commercial relations with a powerful nation might 

 provoke an attack in response. Very well ; then it becomes our 

 duty, not only in defense of the reign of law, but in our own de- 

 fense, to be prepared to resist it. 



