The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-07-09
TO AVOID WAR.
Almost Universal Peace Reigns
Between All Nations.
1t is Due to This Country's Elk
ample Says Mr.. McCreary.
T HE cary LAW.
1t Was Managed With Good
Feeling on Both Sides.

"YOu have occasionally mentioned the In
%eFesting fact that the world now enjoys
universal peace, said Chairman NfcCreary
of the foreign affairs committee, but you
really have not done the subject Justice.
You newspaper men little inclined
to touch only the outside and striking
features without going into the causes, and
you should add that not only is the world
at peace, but there are now more agencies
working for peace than ever before, so far
rs history gives account. Have you noticed
that in every country In the world that
has anything like a constitutional govern
ment the radical peace party is now in
power, and even in despotic governments
the monarchs appear peacefully 1nclineds
Perhaps there is something in the idea Of
q great world influence, but more likely It
is the result of advancing civilization, of
Christianity and several other forces, and
think the cost OF war has great deal to
do with it, Be that as it may, however,
I am almost persuaded that we are fast
learning how to avoid war, that the great
example of the United States has had its
effect upon the world, and that after all
the sneering and skepticism we may be
quite near to that time the prophet foresaw
when swords and spears shall be turned
into implements of peace, and nations
learn the art of war no more.
The Geary Law.
'sYou ought, however, to go deeper into
consider our own country first. While it
does not become US to boast of what this
committee has done, I am perfectly salts
fed that it will 10 written in history that
Mr.. CleveIand's was the great peace ad-
ministration of the age, and that it hsa
managed all it's foreign relations with abiL
ity and dignity and in a spirit Of real
Christian earnestness for peace. We first
had the Chinese complication to deal with.
The Geary law, you relnem Der, was evaded,
and therefore introduced from this COM
mittee bill defining what is a 1aborer and
what is a merchant in the meaning of our
law.
The whole affair was managed most
pleasantly by the state department here
with the Chinese minister, and the result
is that there is the best of feeling on both
sides, and both governments are well sat
isfled, and what is of more importance to
the far west, while there were but los, 600
Chinese supposed to be liable TO the law,
107, 600 have registered The bill report
ed also extended the time for them to reg
lister, and everything proved perfectly sat
isfactOry, and the relations between the
two nations were meier better than now.
Our next complication was in the Ha-
waiian business, of which the country has
probably heard enough. 1t amounts to
very little for critics to point out minor
mistakes here and there when the general
policy is correct. 1t has been the settled
policy OF this nation from the first to con
cede to other peoples the same independ-
ence in their domestic affairs that we
have claimed for ourselves Mr.. Cleveland
took his position at the start on the
ground that we had no more right to
stimulate revolution in Hawaii than in
any other country and that the policy
pursued in Chile when the governments of
BalInaceda was assaulted was the right
policy to have pursued in Honolulu.
Cases Settled AmicabIy.
tsOoitbpr in Chile NOR Rrazi1 did f,a
revolutionists send word to the Americas
that they were unable to protect |
themselves and wanted the aid Of Ameri-
can marines, and had they done the re-
quest would have been refused, although |
American warshtps were in their harbOrs- \
We took the high ground that precisely |
the same principles should have governed /
In Hawaii, and the resolution reported by I
mo from this committee that the action OF /
Stevens was contrary to the /
traditions of our republic, and therefore |
to be condemned was sustained in the
house by a majority of 101. The subse-
quent proceedings in Hawaii have moth
ing to do with the morality of action
there We have but one duty-tO allow
the people of Hawaii to work out their
own problem. to adhere to our traditional
policy and TO stand up for equal justice to
all nations, weak or powerful, and to have
alliances with none
we did not get what we asked in the
matter of Boring sea and the Pribilof
Islands, but we submitted the matter to
arbitration, and we stand by the results.
Besides the arbitIators on behalf Of Great
Britain and the United States there was
one appointed by France and one by Swe-
len and Norway, and the moral effect Of
The arbitration has been great. The bill
reported from this committee to enforce
the award speedily passed both houses and
became law, and similar legislation has
been adopted by the parliament. Great
Britain and our country have never been
1n better terms than now, and the same
nay be said OF all our foreign relations.
This COMMITTEES has reported more impOr-
amt measures than at any session for a
ong time and all in the interest of peace.
We are yet 60 have our day in the house
md have 10 bills to dispose of, but none
If any serious Importance Our action in
1870 in submitting the Alabama claims to
arbitration has been great example, and
he rest, as I said, is due to advancing
to education and the spirit of
Christianity. which have brought the great
nations very near together.
International Trade.
I'm England Gladstone has been pre-
.1ninently the friend of peace and arbitra-
ion, and his successors are evidently of the
anne mind The same might be said OF
sadi Carnot, and I regard the election OF
Jasimir- Perier notice to the world
hat France is for peace. Even the Ger
nan emperor, you will observe, has re-
emily seized every occasion to advocate
peaceful methods, and in Russia and east
IN Europe, according to all our advices,
he same tendency prevails. Improved
Methods of warfare have made it more ex-
,ensive, and in spite Of hostile tariffs there
s a steady increase of international trade.
Trade is the handmaiden of peace. Com
nercial freedom would now render war
cry remote possibility If not actually i'm
,Ossible What we want is to trade with /