Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1871-05-24
.,vrHg-Two ROADS TO PEACE top


The transfer of thefsettlenlent of inter
national disputes, from the desolating and
bloody fields of war to the peaceful tribu-
mails where reason and justice control all
decisions, is the Inauguration of q new fea-
ture in the diplomacy of nations. For
some weeks past aJoint High Commission,
composed OF delegates from England and
America, have been in session i'm Wash
ington, celebrating upon the questions at
issue between the two governments. The
result of these consultations has been the
Treaty of Washington, some of the main
features of which we have already given.
1t is now before the Senate, in executive
session, for their con neutrality-suspicious.
to its final ratification by the two powers.
So far as we have been able to observe.
there has never been aState paper of equal
Importance so unanimously accepted by
the people and press of the country.
We cannot now think of single
newspaper of influence that objects
10 II as whole, or opposes its
ratification. 1t Is gratifying fact, and
We chronicle 1t with pleasure. Though we
are informed by cable that Lord Russell,
tomorrow, proposes to oppose the treaty in
the English House of Lords, we have vet
the assurance from the members of the
Commission that il has met with popular
approval over the waters, scarcely less en-
phatie or universal than here We look
upon this popular anxiety ON the subject
as an evidence that the people of the two
countries do not propose to be involved in
war, If a fair and reasonable adjustment
through this commission can be secured
Lord Russell may oppose the treaty. and
may carry with him in his opposition,
numbers of his political friends, but he
cannot endanger its ratification, for in
England the Sovereign alone exercises
this right. The ministry will hardly OBJ
ject to a treaty which, in the main, must
be substantially satisfactory, else it would
not have been signed by their agents.
mat two-tl1irds of our Senate will con-
cur in the treaty is certain. Wemay there
fore, reasonably count upon its final rati-
cation. The questions thus peacefully
settled, are infinitely more important than
those which involved Germany and
France in their recent war. Give to the
latter all the Significance claimed and
they are immeasurably less important.
This treaty, in fact, settles a new and far
reaching principle of international law.
and one which, if generally recognized
(as in time Ii must), will be of great adj
vantage to all mankind. Think of this.
and then contemplate the different means
by which these ends were secured Look
upon the sOrrow-stricken homes of Ger
many, and then upon poor desolated di-
vided, bleeding France, and then upon
England and America, with their happy
thriving homes, submitting to the arbitra-
ment of an intelligent, just and able board
of men, their disputes for full and final
settlement. How striking the contrast!
May we not hope this new feature in di-
plomacy inaugurated by our President,
himself, a great and able commander,
knowing full well the horrors of war, and
perils of battles, is to become universal
and that nations will not hereafter go out
to war, to bring upon the people misery
and death, when peaceful tribunals can be
organized to settle their disputes more
honorably and fairly?