RELATIVE EQUALITY TO INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION. 571 



in lieu of the verdict of battle, than those of a body of which all the mem- 

 bers voted equally. The chances would then be many, that individual States 

 would gain no more by fighting than by voting, and to assume that, in 

 such circumstances, they would prefer to vote, is surely to credit them with 

 no very wonderful measure either of humanity or of wisdom. But even the 

 pacific baton is an emblem of physical force, and without the State, as within 

 the State, the balance must rest on the sword. War will cease, and ought 

 to cease, only when the wicked cease from troubling; and I am very much 

 of the opinion of the meditative and sarcastic Dutch innkeeper, of whom 

 Kant relates in his Essay, that he had a churchyard painted over his door for 

 a sign, with the superscription " Perpetual peace." On the other hand, how- 

 ever, I subscribe to Dr Whewell's view, that whilst war exists, the problem of 

 its abolition is one on which all students and professors of International Law are 

 bound perpetually to labour, because every approximation to its solution is a gain 

 to humanity ; and it is the feeling which I entertain of the very solemn character 

 of this obligation which has emboldened me to make so serious a claim on your 

 indulgence. 



'o v 



[Since the preceding paper was read to the Society, an event has occurred 

 which must give fresh impulse to every effort to substitute diplomacy for war. 

 In announcing the results of the Luxemburg conference to the French Legis- 

 lature, on the 13th May 1867, the Marquis de Moustier said — 



" The Government thinks it useful especially to point out that for the first 

 time, the meeting of a Conference, instead of following a war, and confining itself 

 to sanctioning its results, has succeeded in anticipating ; t, ?nd preserving the 

 benefits of peace. This is a precious indication of the new tendencies which pre- 

 vail in the world, and over which the friends of progress and civilisation should 



rejoice."] 



J. L. 



