Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1896-12-15
REVERSE OF UNITED STATES SEAL

ing indefinitely, and some are entered
into merely for specified period Of
time, but treaties are usually intended
to be lasting. AS soon as a treaty is
completed in every sense of the word,
and proclamation has been made, the
public printer at Washington prints
500 copies of it for the use of the de-
partment of state; because the depart
ment sends a copy to each of its repre-
sentatives in the country with which
the treaty has been made. Copies are
also sent to all of our diplomatic
officials who may be in any way affected
by the treaty, so that all may be proper
ly informed and govern themselves ac-
cordingly. The great seal of the United
States is affixed to the original ratified
copy, to the exchanged copy, and to the
proclamation of the treaty. 1t is
stamped on wafer of white paper and
is stuck to the document with muci-
lage. The seals of South America
countries are similarly affixed, but the
treaties with European countries are
always sealed in wax.
The sealing of a treaty is a formal
ity Of vast Importance, and every ma
ton carefully guards it's seal so thatit
cannot be improperly used. The great
seal of the United States is under loci.
and key in the department. of state,
and is always closely guarded, so that
it is practically impossible that anyone
shall ever get an imprint of it. The
zeal is a die made by prominent jew
elry firm in New York, and it is regard
ed as one Of the most beautiful seals in
the world, in point of skilled workman
ship as well as in it's design.
Treaties are regarded as of such con-
ftdential Importance that they are
never divulged before the time for
their proclamation. Newspaper cor
respondents will resort to all manner
CT devices in order to get advance copy
of treaty. In 1872 the whole world
was astounded when the New York
Tribune published in advance full
copy of the pending washington
treaty" with Great Britain. The cor
respondents of the Tribune We're SUD-
noncd here and placed under arrest,
but they declined to state where they
received their copy of the treaty. They
were imprisoned for two or three weeks
but were finally discharged. They
would not tell. Newspaper correspond.
ents at Washington are usually honor
able men who will suffer themselves
rather than betray the men who fayo,
them with news.
In 1894 there was @ sensation caused
| -, ,plN 10 n
+ o,s.-ooitre.oar pupiisires1 the russian eX
tradition treaty. But nobody could dis
cover how it became public. That
treaty had been pending for severa
years, several senators were deter
mined ssause they did MOI
want this country TO be searched fol
criminals escaping from Russia. The,
said that the treaty was too much like
the fugitive slave law, and it was while
this discussion was going on in secre
session that the treaty was stolen, Of
purloined or borrowed, and uncere
moniously published.
The treaties on file in the department
of state are very interesting, but sci
dom seen. The seals of the various coun
tries are curious. The seal of Great
Fritain is as big as plate, and repre-
SCENTS Victoria on her throne The treaty
with Persia is in q silk bag three fee
long. The cXtradition treaty wit!
Sweden is in silver case inclosed in
box of polished wood with brass clasps
The treaties with China are odd indeed
being written on yellow paper pasted
on linen, and in the form of book. The
treaty of 1865 is in a box of lacquere:
ware sprinlSled with gold. That is
Chinese trick, and Yankee ingenuity
has never been equal to the task O.
sprinliling gold on paper SO that it viii
stick, and then to make ink adhere t.
'he gold and paper alike.
The treaty with the Fiji islands ii
merely whales tooth. A token from
an African potentate is an elephant'
tusk. y robe of grass trimmed will
features constitutes the treaty will
Samoa The acceptance OF these token:
by the United States constitutes ,
treaty. To send them back would n1eau
q declaration of war.
SMITH d. FRY.