The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-04-07
MUST AMERICA BE ALWAYS PRE-
SCENTED As BULLY?

Readers of The Times need not be told
that this journal has all along deeply re-
GREETED the position taken by the United
States respecting her controversy with
Great Britain in the Behrng sea matter.
Our readers know that we have always
argued that the United States have and
could have no greater rights In Behrng
sea than any other power has. The seals
that frequent the islands there interest
us greatly and we have always hoped
some method might be found for protect
Ing them from determination. The Times
has believed that If this Government had
approached the Government Of Great
Britain with no claims Of superior right,
but with an earnest plea that she would
unite with us in an attempt TO preserve
the existence Of the seal, we would have
been met by England in the same spirit
and a modus Vivendi would have been
agreed to that would have done justice to
all with protection 10 the seal. But the
Blaine and Harrison ethics of lingo and
bully ruled the hour and we came 10 be
embarked upon a career Of high-handed
menace which the good sense Of the coun-
try finally forced them to abandon for
an international arbitration.
We had hoped and supposed that be
would be placed upon a lofty plane that
would make her seek fairness and justice
above everything. and that would divert
the attention of mankind from the spots
that tricking politicians had cast upon
her escutcheon in their admiration for
the dignity, moderation and justice Of her
demeanor before international arbitra-
tors. We fear this will not occur, but
that we shall still occupy the position
of a grasping sutton seeking all advan-
tages that legal legeI demain can bring
10 US. Mr.. Phelps has so far been the
spokesman OF America before the court.
ard his contentious have not been of that
moderate and dignihed character which
becomes his place.
For instance Directing on Wednesday
TO the court considering document which
the representatives Of England wished to
put in, he said:
IF had been guiding the policy Of
the United States when Great Britain pre-
scented the counter case at the last
minute l would then and there have re-
fused to proceed with the arbitration
Great Britain's conduct was not only
unjust but deeply humiliating to the
United States"
This is the way in which those people
who admire magnetic statesmen" and
clustering representatives delight to hear
of their country being represented It
is not in accordance. though. with the
ideas Of those who themselves act just
ly and moderately in all circumstances.
and who equally desire to see their coun-
try always placed in the same light. Sir
Charles Russell in replying to Mr.. Phelps
was much nearer the plane of statesman
when he said that "he felt quite unpre-
pared for this extraordinary heat on
the part of the opposing counsel" and
he was not far from giving Mr.. Phelps
rebuke when he said:
1.-THE counsel for the United States had
attempted throughout the sittings Of tbe
uibutal TO force this matter upon the
commissioners as if only one question
were before them. There were. however
other questions than those of right 10 be
settled. The tribunal was dealing with
the affairs of an open sea in which were
involved other rights than those OF Great
Britain and the United States. namely
the rights of mankind. In the matter Of
Great Britain's and Americas rights. the
arbitrators must act strictly as judges;
In -.
they must acquit themselves as lust
men,"