The first task of the assembly is to co-operate with the international congresses held under the auspices of the French Government. A congress information bureau has been established with special rendezvous at the rooms of learned societies and elsewhere for members of the association, to enable them to reach the resources of the Exposition; and to meet fellow-workers, French and foreign alike. During the entire Exposition lectures and conferences in different languages will be given in various halls at the disposition of the assembly. The conferences will be of three kinds; First, leçons-guides, peripatetic lectures given in different parts of the Exposition, and directed by professors, engineers, artists, art-critics and specialists in all departments. General conferences then will treat of the discoveries and the latest problems in science, as well as of the general movements in arts and literature, industrial and social progress, etc., and finally there will be conferences upon expositions in general, with special reference to the Exposition of 1900, its history, organization and classification. Members will be taken round about Paris from time to time, and receptions will be held in the various halls of the assembly. Reading and conversation circles will be an attractive feature of the summer's program, while every facility will be afforded members to render their visit to Paris the more agreeable and to aid their researches and studies. So far as general information is concerned, the preceding account may suffice; but the student, the specialist, the educationalist, may well wish, however, some more intimate account of the nature and proposed objects of the international association; while from the standpoint of the learned societies and of the universities it is naturally desirable to have the fullest understanding as to the possibilities of practical usefulness offered by the association or latent in the possibilities of an organization still necessarily somewhat undefined. Like any individual mind, a social organization like this has a side towards thought and a side towards action. As the individual takes in his impressions through the senses, and not only records them in memory, but builds them up into concepts, so a scientific association is but an organization in which such individual activities are recorded and rendered generally accessible. A bibliography is thus a social memory, a collective brain. But as the individual mind is more than memory, so must an adequate social organization have more than its library of records, its bibliographic catalogue. It must endeavor to compare, to combine, to summarize, to interpret and to generalize. Hence the usefulness, frequently international in character, not only of publications, like the Royal Society's catalogue of scientific papers, but of standing committees of men of science, such as are so frequently established in connection with the various national associations for the advancement of science. The good work done by the international collaboration of astronomers, or meteorologists, the progress of the metric system, the comparatively recent unification of electrical measurements, are familiar examples. Without, of course, repeating or duplicating any work at present being adequately done, it is obviously desirable that a record be kept and made as largely accessible as possible of all the different movements toward unification and share in progress over the world of science, and that this may be not only done through individual aid or special suggestion, but gain a collective force. The correlation of learned societies of the great universities of the world and of cultured people in general, is no mere matter of kindly courtesy, of mutual eligibility to membership or the like. It has its scientific side, for without the slightest degree seeking to limit the most complete individual freedom of investigation of all and in all directions, it must be recognized that the efficiency and eminence of an investigator largely depends upon his grasp, not only of the particular problem before him, but of the general methods and possibilities of his science, and this, if possible, through its varying outlooks at different phases of its history. Here the different treatises of the different sciences vary greatly; some magisterial in their comprehensiveness and arrangement, but all the more accurate in the placing of effects and in the spirit of their interpretation. From this standpoint the programs issued by the various congresses of the Exposition are found to vary greatly, some of the best indicating such a clear survey and such a masterly analysis of their subjects as to make investigation more orderly and discussion more relevant and practical than is often the case, even in the would-be most scientific of gatherings where no such program has been arranged; admirably suited also to the division of labor among mutually-understanding groups of specialists. To utilize and to promote such a general survey and such practical subdivision is one of the most useful tasks which can lie before the association, and there need be no fear of stereotyping any particular program or outline, since this by the very nature of the case is always open and will find relief in every assembly. International Arbitration.'-The Sixth Annual Lake Mohonk Conference for International Arbitration was held at Lake Mohonk, June 6, 7 and 8, 1900, at the invitation of the hospitable Albert K. Smiley. Like its predecessors, it was a practical body, made up of men and women of varying views as to national and international 1 Contributed by Hon. Clinton Rogers Woodruff. problems, but all united on the vital necessity of substituting international arbitration for the arbitrament of war in the settlement of international disputes. Following the policy of last year, a rule was adopted excluding references to the Philippine and South African wars, a rule which was carefully observed by supporters of the administration who were present. The more ardent anti-Imperialists, however, seemed unable to talk on the question of arbitration without bringing in references to the existing wars, although it was clearly evident that the two questions were entirely distinct. The principal address was made by Frederick William Holls, of New York, secretary of the American delegation to the Hague Peace Conference of 1899. It was a masterly presentation of the causes leading up to the conference, the discussions and the outcome. For nearly two hours Mr. Holls held the close attention of the audience, while he described the great and substantial contributions to the cause of international peace which had been worked out by a conference composed of distinguished diplomats who had come together really expecting to do no more than pass a set of platitudes which would sound well, but would mean very little. Among the other speakers were Professor Felix Adler, of New York City; John Crosby Brown; Dr. William Hayes Ward, of the Independent; Theodore Sutro, New York City; Protap Chunder Mazoomdar, of Calcutta; Hon. Samuel J. Barrows, of Washington; Mrs. William S. Clark, daughter of the late John Bright; former Congressman William J. Coombes, of Brooklyn; Professor J. Rendal Harris, of Cambridge University, and Robert Treat Paine, of Boston. Hon. Charles Mattison, former Chief Justice of Rhode Island, was the presiding officer, and Mrs. Isabel C. Barrows, Miss Martha D. Adams and Clinton Rogers Woodruff served as secretaries. The conference adopted the following Declaration of Principles: DECLARATION OF THE SIXTH MOHONK LAKE ARBITRATION CONFERENCE. The year has been a chequered one in the history of peace. The war with Spain was concluded by the treaty of Paris, but even yet the fighting drags on in the Philippines. A still more bloody and bitter war was carried on in South Africa. These conflicts sadden the hearts of all who love the principles which this Conference advocates. Yet friends of peace need not be discouraged. These wars have given to the world a sad lesson of the folly and the danger to states, of submitting to the arbitrament of force such differences as might be settled by the arbitrament of reason. On the other hand, the friends of peace have occasion to exult in the accomplishment of a work unparalleled in human history, by which nearly all the nations of the world have become associated in a declared purpose to avoid war. By the labors of the distinguished members of the Peace Conference at The Hague, in which the representatives of this country had so honorable a part, there has been provided an august permanent tribunal, before which every nation can bring its differences with other Powers, assured of an impartial decision. This Conference rejoices to know that twenty-six nations have ratified the treaty constituting this international court, the United States being the first power to act. It also rejoices to be informed that the permanent organization of this great tribunal will be soon accomplished, so that it will be ready to do the work assigned to it. This union of the nations of the earth is an event of the first historic importance, fitly rounding out a great century, and giving promise of immeasurable good for the centuries to come. This wonderful event, achieved during the past year, imperatively settles the next step which the friends of peace should take, namely, to induce this government to enter into separate treaties with all other Powers, under which all such difficulties with them as cannot be settled by the usual diplomatic negotiations, shall be referred to the international tribunal at The Hague. The reference of disputes to that tribunal is, under the provision of the treaty, now only permissive. This was as much as that Conference could well devise and recommend. What is now permissive should, so far as this country is concerned, be made obligatory. This can be accomplished by new and brief treaties with the other Powers, under the terms of which all disputes which may arise, of whatever nature, not settled by ordinary diplomatic methods, shall be referred for final decision to this permanent court of the nations. To this end, this Conference hereby petitions the President of the United States that he enter into negotiations. with other Powers for such treaties, and it further appeals to the people of the United States that they create a public opinion that such treaties shall be promptly ratified by the Senate of the United States. To the end that such public opinion in favor of peace and arbitration may be attained, this Conference recommends that public meetings be held for this purpose in the larger and smaller centres of population; and it especially urges that the blessings of peace, rather than the glories of war, be emphasized in our common and higher schools, and it particularly requests that teachers of religion shall in their ministrations, and especially at the Christmas season, urge upon their people the obligation to use all influence in their power to bring to the earth the rule of that spirit of peace and charity which sees in every race or nation brothers for whose welfare this nation has a duty as well as for its own. BOOKS RECEIVED FROM APRIL I TO JUNE 1, 1900. Abbott, S. W., The Past and Present Condition of Public Hygiene and State Medicine in the United States. (Monographs on American Social Economics. H. B. Adams, Editor.) Baker, R. S., Our New Prosperity. Doubleday & McClure Company. $1.25. Bancroft, F., The Life of William H. Seward. 2 vols. Harper. $5.00. Bérard, V., L'Angleterre et l'Impérialisme. Paris: Colin. 4fr. Bolles, A. S., Pennsylvania. Wanamaker. $5.00. Bowley, A. L., Wages in the United Kingdom in the Nineteenth Century. London: Clay. 6s. Chailley-Bert J., Java et ses habitants. Paris: Colin. fr. de Coubertin, P., France Since 1814. Macmillan. $1.50. Craig, J. P., Modern Irish Grammar. Dublin: Sealy, Byers & Walker. 25. Del Mar, A., History of Money in America. New York: Cambridge Encyclopedia Company. $1.50. Deniker, J., The Races of Man. London: Walter Scott. 6s. Dorman, M. R. P., The Mind of the Nation. I,ondon: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co. 125. Fisher, H. N., Principles of Colonial Government Adapted to the Present Needs of Cuba and Porto Rico and of the Philippines. Boston: L. C. Page & Co. $0.20. Fitch, Sir J., Educational Aims and Methods. Macmillan. $1.25. Goodnow, F. J., Politics and Administration. Macmillan. $1.50. Grady, B. F., The Case of the South Against the North. Published by the author, Turkey, N. C. $1.50. Hendrick, F., Railway Control by Commissions. Putnams. $1.00. 25. 6d. Henry, L. E., Napoleon's War Maxims. London: Gale & Polden. 6s. Jenks, E., A History of Politics. Macmillan. $0.40. Kaye, P. L., The Colonial Executive Prior to the Restoration. Johns Hopkins University Studies in Historical and Political Science, Series XVIII, Nos. 5 and 6. $0.50. Kelly, E., Government or Human Evolution. Longmans. $1.50. Landon, J. S., Constitutional History and Government of the United States. (Revised Edition.) Houghton, Mifflin & Co. $3.00. Latané, J. H., Diplomatic Relations of the United States and Spanish America. Johns Hopkins Press. $1.50. Lefèvre, A., La Grèce Antique. (Bibliothèque des Sciences Contemporaines.) Schleicher Frères. 6fr. Leroy-Beaulieu, Pierre, La Rénovation de l'Asie, Sibérie, Chine, Japan. Paris: Colin. 4fr. Lloyd, H. D. A Country Without Strikes. New York: Doubleday, Page & Co. $1.00. Lowell, A. L., Colonial Civil Service. Macmillan. $1.50. Lubin, D., Let There Be Light. Putnams. $1.50. |