Arizona weekly citizen. [volume] (Tucson, Ariz) 1880-1901, 1896-02-08
a MEMORIAL.
To the President of the United States
and the Senate and House of
Representatives in Con-
gress Assembled.

The Memorial OF the representatives Of
the Religious Society of friends of
Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Dela-
ware. respectfully represents:
That we have participated with many
others OF our fellow>citizens in anxiety
and regret at the threatened disturbance
of amicable relations between our gov
eminent and that of Great Britain, rels-
tive to the boundary dispute between
the latter and Venezuela in South
America. The eff 5rts made by the
executive and cabinet of the United
States for months past to induce Great
Britain to refer this question to srbitra-
ton meet with our cordial appreciation
ahd sympathy. We believe this is the
| true and Christian solution of all differ
ences that may arise between either
individuals or nations, in accordance
! with the benign rule instituted by the
Supreme Lawgiver in his sermon on the
mount: Therefore all things whatso
ever ye would that men should do to
you, do ye even so 20 them: for this il
the law and the prophets. u Matthew
Z: R) But we think our government Is
liable to lose the firm ground thus as
sumed in it's peaceful intervention be-
tween the contendIDg parties by hoIdir g
out a menace against one OF them, that
in case she did not accept our good
offices In the mode we had prescribed,
the U nited States would resist by every
mems in its power, as willful aggression
upon its rights and interests, the appro
prIation 10y Great Britain of any lands,
ETC., which, after Investigation, we have
determined of right belong to Venezue-
la.
The intense agitation of the public
mind, both in the United States and
England, which has followed the pub
lication Of the late state papers on the
Venezuela question, involving, as they
do, the thought Of the possl bility of war,
indicate the sentlveness of the thinking
part OF the two nations to anything that
would refer to the arbltrsmept of the |
sword difference between them. Sure
ly nothing thst we could gain by enter
ing upon a contest of arms with Great |
Britain in such a cause could ever COM
peDsate for the unspeskable loss. both |
moral and material, which must result |
to both nations by such conflict
Should not the minds Of all good men |
shrink with horror from initiating even |
the entering wedge of so dire a calamity |
by using incorporate or offensive lam
guage in dealing with the question at |
Issue, either in diplomatic CT srate
papers, or by their public utteranses
when in official positions? For wars, in
many instances, owe their origin more
- the offended pride of rulers on trivial
occasions than TO the invasion Of tie
ust rights or property of the combat
ante.
The Savior of men, who is the 'Prince
OF Peace" has bestowed His blessing Cd
the peace makers; and His inspired
apostle declares that 'the wisdom which
is from above is pure, then peaceable,
gentle and easy TO be entreated, full of
mercy and good fruits, and the fruit of
righteousness is sown in peace of them
that make peace" (James 3: II, 49,. II
is this desirable wisdom, and a just re-
gard for the rights OF all at this critical
period, that we desire to commend to
our rulers, and to beseech you that mol
haste to vindic8te what may be supposed
20 be the honor and prestige of our be-
owed republic, may Obscure the benign
purpose of the religion We profess,
which was ushered into the world by
he angelic anthem of peace on earth
and good will to men," We feel that
my occasion should be carefully avoid
ID which might kindle the flames of ami
mostly between two Of the foremost ma |
ions OF the globe, who are bound to
zach other by the ties of common
language and race, commercial inter-
course and Christian civilization.
Signed by direction and on behalf Of a
Meeting of the aforesaid representatives
held in Philadelphia on the third day Of
he first month, 1896.
JOSEPH WALTON, Clerk.