Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-30
cHILE,s IMPORTANT SUGGESTION.

Although the Chilean reply to the Pres
idental ultimatum does not contain the
"abject apology" which the jingo organs
declared to be Indispensable, and does
contain the proposition for arbitration
which those dictators of public opinion
declared an impossbility, it is accepted by
the sober sense of the nation as ending
the dangerous phases of the controversy.
1t is very clever piece OF diplomatic
work in at once maintaining the dignifed
position of Chile and meeting the demands
of the Government so completely as to
take away the grounds of complaint. In
no respect does it display the ability to
disarm enmity more forcibly than by the
proposition to submit the dispute to the
Supreme Court of the United States.
While giving full recognition to the
master-stroke of appealing to our ma
tional pride and expressing confidence IN
the justice of the non-partisan branch of
our Government as a means of allaying
the war spirit so sedulously cultivated in
this country, if we should contemplate
the practical acceptance of such propo-
sition it would be seen to be mad
miSSible. The functions of the Supreme
Court of the United States are perhaps
more closely and clearly defined than
those of any other branch of the Govern
ment. 1t can bear and settle no disputes
except such as are brought within its
jurisdiction by the provisions of the Con-
stitution; and the hearing Of international
disputes is not in that category. 1t is fiat
tering and concillatory for Chile to say:
''For the present purposes we will consent
TO the extension of the jurisdiction OF that
body to take in our Government" but even
supposing that our Constitution and laws
could be so stretched, the fact that the
work already imposed on the Supreme
Court occupies all of its time would be de-
cisively against the proposition.
While recognizing that the Chilean prop
osition is impracticable, as it stands, and
may be based on as slight acquaintance
with our judicial system as some people
in this country have already displayed
concerning the Chilean courts, we should
not fail to see that it contains valuable
suggestion. In this proposition Chile
recognizes the value of taking inteTna-
tional disputes out of the domain of
politics, away from the influence of popu-
lar passion or private interests, and sub
mitting them to calm, impartial and
judicial tribunal This directs the attention
to the logical conclusion that such court
might be permanently constituted by
treaty for the settlement of international
disputes by the principles of justice and
law instead of by diplomatic chicanery or
international bullying. 1t is not probable
that European complications would permit
the creation of such court for the entire
world, but the proposal of Chils indicates
that the time is nearly if not quite ripe to
constitute an international court for the
Western Hemisphere.
Secretary Blaine should not lose the op-
portunity thus afforded him to cement the
union Of the American republics by pro-
posing the foundation of a court to settle
international disputes ON all subjects ex-
cept those which involve the integrity and
independence of any State.