Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-01-21


In a well-considered and cogent edi-
torial on "our CHILEAN Obligations" the
Philadelphia Ledger moralizes upon
that branch of mental philosophy which
deals with inquiry into show short
period of time it takes the human mind
under some conditions to forget things"
The application of course is to those
bellicose Americans who have already
forgotten how strongly our government
is committed to arbitration before going
to war, "and especially to resort to that
peaceful and civilized method Of set
ting international disputes and griev-
ances before engaging in hostilities with
can continent" 1t is fresh in the pub
lie mind how President Harrison him
self, who is credited by news reports
with being most obviously bellcose,
not very long ago commended to the
consideration of Congress "the advanced
position which this government has
taken upon the subject of international
arbitration" and anticipated with salts
faction the concurrence of Congress in
his renewed expression of our adher-
ence to this method Of settling disputes"
Most pertinently should he remember
the prominence given TO arbitration in
the deliberations of the Pan-American
Congress. Specifically on this point the
Ledger well says;
And although that agreement was not
ratified by all the governments repre-
| scented in the Congress so as to become
internationally binding on them ALL
Chilli especially holding aloof-the spirit
OF 1t, and its true intent and purpose, are
none the less morally binding on the
United states, at whose instance the Pan
| American Congress was called into exist
ence, and under whose especial auspices
the proposal for arbitration as a substitute
for war on the American continent met
with the large measure of acceptance il
achieved.
The Ledger also reminds the warlike
press that "our own government has
steadily refused to admit any response
bility" forth killing Of Italians at New
! Orleans, and that no one can say that
we have yet gotten at the very truth Of
the Valparaiso riot. The judicial ex.
animation by Judge Foster, of the Val
paraiso criminal court, was analogous tc
a grand jury proceeding in our own
country, while the evidence taken al
San Francisco was similarly ex partc
so" says the Ledger, ''the case, as il
stands now, rests upon ex parte state.
ments from both sides. 1t lis therefore, moi
in fit condition for judgment.or decision
by either one of the sides, but just ex.
actly in the condition wherein it should
go to disinterested, open tribunal, fol
full and dispassionate hearing Of both
sides-that is, for tribunal of arbitra.
ton"
The Ledger does not remark upon the
explanation of this strange forgetfulnes:
of the recent stand for arbitration taker
by this country; an explanation which
the Washington news of each succeed
ing day affords growing warrant fol
; believing TO be the true one-that thii
Gillian war talk is being assiduousl,
nursed by the Harrison administration
for the purpose of distracting attention
from the record of the Billion Dolla
J Congress and the continually growing
demand for less taxation and freer trade
1t would be foolish indeed in the Demo
cratic members of Congress to ALLOW
themselves to be made use of for tn
furtherance of Mr.. Harrison's secon,
term ambition should thatgo to the Length
OF Willingness to plunge the country
, into an unnecessary war in order to &C
complish his purpose.