Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1871-07-27
The Presidents Treaty PrOciaHa-
tion.
From the New York Independsnt.

President Grant has issued his
Proclamation officially announcing
what was already known-that the
Treaty of Washington has been raitfi
ed by ..the United States of America
and Her Majesty the Queen of the
United Kingdom OF great Britain and
Ireland" The treaty submits all the
outstanding questions between the
two countries to boards arbitration.
and pledges the faith of both to ac-
cept Their. Judgment as final. The San
Juan difficulty, which is merely a
q ,estion of boundary line, depending
On the ;nterp. rotation of a previous
treaty. is referred to the Emperor OF
Germany as sole arbitrator in the
matter.
The question in regard to the fish
cries is disposed ofby comprise be-
tween the two nations. Each makes
concessions to the other; and beth
agree to refer any difference as to the
relative advantages reaped by each to
q commission OF three members pro-
vided for, whose duty it is to deter
mine the proper remuneration, If any,
to be paid by the United States for
superior benefits in respect to the
fisheries derived from the terms of
the treaty. The claims of citizens of
the United States. not includedin in the
alabama" question, asising between
the 18th of April 1861, and the 9th
of April, 1865, and also the claims
Of British subjects against the United
States for the same period, are refer
Sec to special commission of three
members-one to be appointed by
the President of the United States, one
by the Queen of England. the third
by the two conjointly; or, in case of
their failure to agree, by the Spanish
minister at Washington.
The fourth and last question. known
as the "Alabama" difficulty, and the
one of far the gravest import, is, IN
der three very important rules Of in
kcTnation law mutually accepted as
applicable to the case, committed to
Eve arbitrators-one to be des gnated
oy the President of the United States,
one by the Queen of England, one by
the President Of the Swiss Confeder-
alton, one by the King of Italy. and
one by the Emperor of Brazil. These
arbitrators may, they choose s'award
Z, sum in gross to be paid by Great
Britain to the United States for all
she claims growing out of the de-
yredations of the rebel cruisers, and
referred to their consideration In
ease they find that Great Britain did
not perform her duties as neutral ma
zion under the rules agredd upon, and
40 not fix the gross sum to be paid
for. damages to tue United States,
then board OF three assessors is to
I've appointed, ito ascertain and deter
mine what claiming are valid, and
what amount or amounts should be
paid by Great Britain to tue United
States on account of the liability aris
ing from such failure as to each YES
eel, as decided by the arbitrators"
Great Britain, moreover, expresses her
"regret''-which is a dignifed way OF
admitting her wrong in not preserv
ing strict neutrality-on account of
'nese 'sAlabama'' depredations, and
The resulting injuries to our commerce.
While agreeing to foot the bill of dam
iges as determined by the arbitra-
.ors or the board Of assessors, The
theory of exemplary damages, upon
which some American statesmen were
disposed to insist, does not, as it
should not, fo ran ypart of this treaty.
It's the theory of passion, rather than
Of wise statemanship; and, withal, ad-
lnits of no practical application. The
actual damages constitute measur-
;.ble quantity ; and these when duly
ascertained Great Britain agrees to
pay. The number of vessels captur-
I'd by the Rebel cruisers during the
war is two hundred and Thirty four;
and the claims filed by the Uuitei
States for the loss of these vessels
and their cargoes now. amount to
about thirteen millions of dollars. 1t
will be for the arbitrators or asses
rors to decide what portion Of these
claims is valid under the three rules
mutually adopted. Their decision,
followed by the action of Great Brit
ain, will be the end of the Alabama"
question, which has so seriously
complicated the relations, if thas not
endangered the peace, of the two
countries.
The grand principle on which this
treaty, embracing all the above ques
lions, is founded is that of peaceful
arbitration in the settlement of inter
national difficulties The treaty l.
selfis formal stipulation to this end,
md that too between two Lations OF
great military and navil power, Meth
er having any occasion to fear the
other. While it is creJitable to both,
i indicates in both an advanced civ
iliGation that harmonizes very per-
.ectly with the dictates of Christiani
", and presents to the world one of
ihe best national EXAMPLES known in
history. When natious Of the best
cannot by the ordinary meth
dds of diplomacy adjust the difficult
ties that exist between them, then the
matters in dispute must be left un-
ettled, to act as causes of alienation
md leopard the peace of both; OF
hey must be treated by one or the
other as casus belli, involving re-
sort to arms; or they must be peace
:ally referred to arbitrators, with the
understanding thas both parties will
'cquiesce in their decision. AS to
which OF these expedients is the one
That ought to be adopted in all cases
lele can be no doubt. War is not {
tribunal ofjustice, but simply of pow
or. 1t is essentially barbarous, an6
ALWAYS coercive in respect to th,
weaker party. Arbitration, on th'
sse hand, is essentially peaceful ant
,1mane. It is the Christian ant
,'lilOSouhical remedy for tho diff