Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 9.djvu/883

 NOTES AND ABSTRACTS 849

Son of Connecticut, it was as a citizen of Massachusetts, his home at the heart of the commonwealth, that Elihu Burritt did so much of his momentous work how momentous few adequately realize for the peace and better organization of the world. It was in England that he organized the " League of Universal Brotherhood ; " but it was in Boston, years before, that he gave his first prophetic address on " Universal Peace ; " in Massachusetts that he issued year ofter year his Christian Citizen, his Peace Papers to the People, and his Olive Leaves. The effort, the successful effort, to secure cheap ocean postage, whose results in bring- ing people close together and helping scatter the fogs of ignorance, in which fears and jealousies and strifes are born, are incalculable, was the effort of Elihu Burritt. Each bursting mail bag on the " Cedric " and the " Oceanic " is his memorial ; The Hague Tribunal is his memorial. But where is Connecticut's monument, where that of Massachusetts, to this great servant? When the last brigadier has had his bronze, and the last commodore, may we not hope for it?

The labors of men associated with our Peace Society have done more than any other to create the spirit which has made America's record in international arbitration the proudest in the world. The now great and influential International Law Association grew from its initiative. It has worked steadily for two genera- tions for the tribunal finally created at The Hague ; and at its initiative the Massachusetts legislature at its last session unanimously passed a resolution asking our government to co-operate with the governments of Europe in establish- ing a stated international congress, from which in the fulness of time it is hoped will develop the organization which will perform in some manner for the world legislatively the functions performed judicially by The Hague Tribunal.

At The Hague Conference itself no delegation achieved more than that of the United States. Its members have borne witness that their strength and influence were due largely to the strong support and earnestness of public opinion at home. No meetings in behalf of the cause in those critical days were so important as those held in Boston ; and no individual American did so much as Boston's grand old man, Edward Everett Hale, who, going up and down the country, working with voice and pen, speaking often three times a day, made younger men blush by his untiring energy and devotion.

Such, briefly, is the record of the constructive services of Boston for a century in behalf of the world's peace and order. Surely there is not in all her proud history any prouder chapter ; and surely now, when the International Peace Congress is to honor the United States by making it the place of its session, no other city has so high claim and title to its special choice as the city of Samuel Adams and Worcester and Channing and Sumner. The meeting within her borders of this great convention, which bids fair to prove the most impressive demonstration in behalf of the peace and better organization of the family ot nations which the world has yet seen, will be a worthy crown to a long history of pioneering and heroic service. EDWIN D. MEAD.

Baron d'Estournelles de Constant. The American Committee of the International Peace Congress, which is to meet in Boston in October, has received a communication from Baron d'Estournelles de Constant, who is one of the French members of The Hague court and the leader of the arbitration movement in France, stating that he will be present at the Congress : and he will probably lead a strong French delegation. He will be one of the speakers at the great meeting which is planned in connection with the Congress, devoted entirely to the work and influence of The Hague Tribunal, with addresses by members of the tribunal from different nations.

Baron d'Estournelles, grand-nephew of Benjamin Constant, is one of the most interesting personalities of the French Chamber of Deputies. He is a man of large ideas, and strives to act and to lead France always to act upon the highest human principles. He represents in the chamber the district of Fleche in the department of Maine ; but he had traveled as a diplomat before his election to the Chamber of Deputies, and his horizon reaches beyond that of officialdom, with its crises provoked by the quarrels of the lower factions in Parliament. He is not