Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-02-08
THE TREATY REJECTED.

uuutOCoodlO WIN PiiNobAOuo "''N "
definite exercise of diplomacy. 1t
was thought best to rub it of the
slate entirely and begin afresh
with a clear understanding on the
part OF the American negOtiators
OF what this country wants and is
prepared to accept.
THIS is, as we think, a sound and
rational conclusion. The exact
version of the treaty has probably
not been published, but enough
has been given out in spite of the
supposed seal of secresy, 10 excite
such objections and denunciations
that a black mark has been set mp
on the production as a whole, and
tinkering with it would not restore
public confidence in it. The clause
or clauses covering, as is alleged
under Intentionally clouded
phrasing the extraditiOn OF polit-
zeal offenders has called forth most
fiery protests, and was used as a
campaign instrument against the
Republican party, because some
Republican Senators were charged
with its insertion. The charge was
met by indignant denial, but was
spread broadcast nevertheless, as
a last resource, in the forlOrn hope
of turning the tide against Harri'
son and Morton.
4 treaty with such flaws and
such a record, condemned at the
start and pigeOn-hOled so long IN
despair of satisfactory recasting,
is best disposed of by simple re-
lection. It was held in the Senate
that a main clause IN it was a de-
parture in principle from any
agreement which the United States
has ever entered INTO and would
result IN the establishment of
dangerous precedent, looking in
spirit. if not in terms, to the extra.
ditiOn of persons for political
offences. it was alleged that II
such treaty had existed between
England aud a European state
during the War Of the Revolution,
ENJOYS from the American colonies
might have been arrested in the
confines OF that state aud extra
dited for treason. This is doubt
less an extreme claim and may be
iusufficiently supported, bat nc
clause which permits the pOssibll
ity Of such assumptions should
ever be ratified by an American
Senate. ..t ..
1t was felt, with much reason
that no pretext should be given by
which American citizens or poIlt
zeal refugees might be seized upon
in any State OF this country and
for lack Of adequate safeguards
transported across the ocean fol
trial in foreign courts. "For
transporting us beyond seas to be
tried for pretended offences" is one
of the chief presentments against
the King of England IN our Dec
laration of Independence; and that
which our fathers would not brook
we, their sons, will not.
We do not pretend TO sympa
thize with the efforts of the pres
ent tory administration to crush
out the home rule movement fol
Ireland ; and we will approve nc
stipulation which may, by per
verted ingenuity even, be twisted
into an apparent Endorsement Of
the course of the present BnglisI
administration. We earnestly
counsel agitation by free speech
and a free press only against the
tory policy, and would shield ne
criminal from Justice, but we do
not propose that any man shall b'
arrested on tramped up charges
or malignant suspicious, or per
iured evidence aud carried across
the Atlantic while our officials arr
looking for authority to interpOse
A treaty which warranted the sus
piciOn of such a possibility wa
properly thrown OverbOard.-B
tom Adrertiser.