Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-08-11
FINE DISPLAY OF COURTESY.
Marking the Close Of Arguments Be
fore the Tribunal 1T Paris

Marking the Close Of Arguments Be
fore the Tribunal 1T Paris.
The full text OF the closing words be
fore the Behring sea arbitrators has
come to band in a leatiet forwarded
from London. 1t is Very We'll worth
printing i'll fun because of the eXquiS-
lite courtesy and 1lne tormality of these
final Utterances, notably those of Ed
ward j. Phelps. Here is the text:
| This, Mr.. President, is the case of
the United States government. How
imperfectly presented, so far as I am
, concerned, no one here knows as well
or feels rs sensibIy as l do 1t is q
case, sir, that no American need blush
for. Its broad propositions of law, its
absolute truthfulnesS of fact, its honest
and straight forward procedure, seek
ing no advantage and taking none
arc all before the tribunal and before
the world. We stand upon the justice
Of this case. We have not found it
necessary to admonish you to beware
of justice, Of morality, of right, or to
refrain from doing the plain thing that
on the face of this whole business
ought TO be done, lest some far-sought
and unreasonable abstraction of
theoretical law might possibly be
viola tod. On the other hand, we have
invoked the principles Of justice. We
principals on which international AT
fairs can proceed or ought to proceed.
1t will be sad day for the world il
international law ever finds any other
foundation.
The particular dispute that is involv-
ed here, like all human controversies,
. is transitory It Will soon pass away.
If this poor herd of animals is destined
. to be eNterminated, the world will
learn to do without many things that
are gone. But the questions to which
the attention Of enlightened Mcn will
be dirCcted,-What is the rule of con-
duct that international law preScribeS
in cases Of new impression between
nations? What is the freedom of the
sea? Where are it's limits? What does
it justify? What does it bring to pass
those are questions that will remain.
On the immediate issue of this CON-
troversy, the decision will be final.
These great nations have agreed to
make it so, and what they have agreed
to do they will do.
! But on these larger questions the
decision of this tribunal is not final.
, From that there is an inevitable appeal
! to the general sense of mankind. None
! will be more gratified [ am sure, than
the members Of this great court, that
it is so; that the opinion of juriSts, of
F! lawyers, Of publicists, will follow
with interest, and approve or disap-
prove,-and I cannot doubt approve
the conclusions you will arrive at; and
that the still better appeal to the ultl-
mate judgment of Intelligent and
civilized men will also follow, which
sooner or later determines the fate and
! the duration of all schemes of human
law.
1t is, sir, with confidence founded
upon the justice of the American
! case, inspired by the high character OF
the tribunal these nations have been
fortunate enough to bring togetheL,
and strengthened by the anxious Sollcl-
| tude every member of it has shown
| through this long and WeariSOmc dis
cussion to reach a right concluSiOn-lt
! is with that unquestioning confidence,
! sir, that the United States government
submits this case to your consideration
The president-Mr. Phelps, the diff,
! cult part has been thrown upon you to
speak the concluding words in this
very eloquent debate, after your friends
! on either side had Striven to make the
task more arduOus to you. 1t has been
discharged in such a manner as fully
to deserve our admiration, blending
| the deep science of the lawyer with
literary refinement and diplomatic
dignity. We appreciate the delicate
even when pressing, touch with which
YOU have gone over matters already
put before us in manifold forms.
| I beg 1 may be allowed to consider
the laurel you have won at this COS
tmopolitan bar as a fair addition to the
wreath Of honors which you have con
quered in other fields, both in the new
and the ancient world.
Sir Charles RuSsell-Mr. President
we have now, so far as discussion il
concerned, reached the end OF these
anxious and protracted proceedings
There is one word that l should like t.
be permitted to say-a word that l an
iauite certain will receive full lndOrSe
men from and by my learned friends
1.-The word l desire to say, Mr.. President
is, for my colleagues and myself, t.
express our deep gratitude for the un
varying patience and courtesy Will
which we have been treated by ever.
member of this tribunal.
I should like to be allowed also to adj
how fully we recognize the manne
in which your proceedings and gu
labors have been assisted and rendered
easy by the o-operation-active
courteous and intelligent tn
I secretary and assistant secretaries o
the commission itself. We ought ais
to recognize the courtesy which w
have met from the secretaries of tn
individual members of the tribunal
with whom we have necessarily beel
brought more or less in contact.
| Mr.. President, we shall all of u
have for many years to come mos
agreeable recollection of the kindnes
and courtesy we have received.
| Mr.. Phelps-I may be allowed, slI
l hope, for my associates and myself
and for my government, to express M,
. cordial concurrence in what has beel