New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-12-23

ENTAHaIua AILIAIaR
IN his farewell addrsas to Is Araerican
people, President washington gave his
sole pm warning against any policy that
nigh lead our government to enter into
entan9ing alliances with European pow
ers. knew the antsgonism that must
naturalA exist between hereditary and
representative forms of government, and
therefore warned his countrymen against
being ensured into any league with gov
ernments Vat might safely count on a
''balance ofRower" that could always be
used, when necessary, against the pro-
gress of repuA jean principles. This eau
ton. given by\ne who is justly esteemed
the father of b country, has generally
been respected b the people and those Of
the people who b We been called upon to
administer govern ent. Any administra-
ton that would uni ertake to pledge this
government to coSs with governments
of antagonistic political principles, that
might endanger the rule of republican
government in Ameri&, would certainly
incur responsibility thai would have to be
answered for to the peork.
There are those who b1ieve that if the
Washington treaty is rat led it will i'm
pose entangling alliances pon our coun-
try that will be dangerous the liberties
of the people. This treaty teates an al
lance between five powers fork pertain pur-
poses. These powers are \e United
States, England, Italy, the s Kiss Con-
federation and Brazil The rAresenta-
tives of these powers are to dme to-
gether in Geneva, in SwitzerlaA, and
they are to be known as the ''TribGal of
Arbitration" Their first duties WILDE to
judge of the differences that exist beAeen
this country and England growing OF of
the course England pursued toward lis
country when civil war threatened its l.
tegrity. That course resulted not only 4
a great loss to this country by prolonginaa
the war, but in great loss to individual
interest.
The property Of many citizens of this
couatry was wantonly destroyed upon the
high seas because England did not per-
form solemn duty, imposed by the laws
of nations, toward a power with which she
protested to be on friendly terms. The
rights of our own citizens, which our gov
eminent is bound to protect, are taken
from its jurisdiction and given into the
hands of what is essentially foreign
and whatever this foreign
commission DEGREES England shall pay
this country for losses its citizens have
in consequence of England's
criminal neglect, is, it is to be presumed,
to be final. But the matter does not end
here. The Washington treaty stipulates
that this foreign commission shall recog-
nize three rules that are laid down for the
future government of neutral nations in
time Of war, and the presumption is that
The five powers who are to settle the in
lividual claims of this country against
England are also to resolve themselves
INTO an alliance for the enforcement of the
'three rules" that are to be agreed to by
he allied powers, and proclaimed as
'ule Of action in the future for all neutral
nations in time of war.
The commissioners on the part of the
English government, and those acting for
he government of the United States, have
ecreated these rules, and, in creating the
Tribunal of Arbitration, to be composed
# the representatives of the five powers
famed in the treaty, it is stipulated that
hese rules are to be confirmed by them,
nd published. as binding upon all the
lowers Of the earth. And here is where
if the Washington treaty is ratifed-the
United States government will be commit
ed, contrary to the warning voice of
to an entangling alliance
18th foreign powers, whose governments
re naturally antagonistic to our own.
he five powers who will thus assume to
~ down rules for the government of all |
eutral nations In time of war will have |
, see that they are enforced. If they pre-
ume to make laws for the government of |
Il nations, they are presumed to be ready
} enforce them should it become necessa-
7. This is a very serious matter-far more
srious to the people of the United States
IAN to the commissioners who represent
lem and their government in the high
int commission that assemblies at Wash
lgton for the purpose of hav-
g justice done this country. But
becomes still more serious
after to the Republican party and Re-
1bican administration that now controls
e government and will be held by the
,ople responsible for their acts. We can
1t believe the administration is fully
'mmitted in favor of the ratification of
e Washington treaty. President Grants
nure Of Office is not fixed, like the heads
other governments who are made par
IS to the very important alliance con-
mplated by the Washington treaty. He
ould be the first to recollect this and the
st to assume any responsibility that
ould jeopardize republican principles by
acing the American government in a
'ong position. But admitting that Pres
ent Grant is in favor of the ratification