The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1896-01-25
Depew Is Eloquent on Subject Of
Patriotism and JingcIsm.
ARBITRATE, SAYS CHAUNCEY
While America Could Beat off Any In
vader. Justice Might
Not Prevail.

Albany, n. Y, Jan. 21.-The annual
session Of the State Bar Association
opened here tonight. The address of the
evening was delivered by Chauncey Nj.
Depew on patriotism and Jingoism;
the Lawyers Duty"
The position taken by the speaker was
that the international war should go
the way of the individual duel. He pro-
posed that the lawyers of this country
and Great Britain address themselves
to the task of educating the people to
the adoption of peaceful arbitration in
matters of dispute. He said:
"Only one power keeps the nations of
Europe from instantly declaring war
The bankers and business men have be-
come the arbiters between the nations.
The only two nations which may be
said to be free from this thraldom, be-
cause of their wealth, their commerce
and credit, are the United States and
England. The events of the few past
weeks have demonstrated how easy it
is to arouse the fighting blood among
our own people. A generation have
come upon the stage since the civil war
who are eager for battle There are oc-
casions when war is both right and
y
upon it without counting the conse-
quences, but the issue of a battle is
never certain, nor does arbitration of
war always end in right and justice"
"Now is the time for our profession
to perform a great work upon the lines
of laws of the century-in promoting
international arbitration. The principal
dispute between the English speaking
| no fa1, 10 10 inn f1,..
calls for both practical wisdom and le-
gal acumen for it's solution. There is no
dissent in this country from the Mon
roe doctrine as promulgated by Presi-
dent Monroe and interpreted by Jeffer-
son, Madison, Webster and Calhoun.
Yet, anyone who studies the Monroe
doctrine will see how in each individual
case, except where there is fragrant vio-
lation, like the French invasion of Mex
leo, applicable Interpretation of it
should be a subject of judicial deter
mination. The presidents message to
congress presents no view of the prin-
ciple. If there is a dispute as to the
boundary line between South American
and European powers, no matter how
insignificant the territory involved, or
how distantly it affects the independ-
ence of the country, or how remotely it
may interest us, we must demand that
the two governments arbitrate the line
and if they refuse, we must find out as
best we can which line is correct, and
enforce it by war.
IF, however, pending our inquiry
the two parties agree that we have nc
further rights or duties, this seems tC
surrender the doctrine If Venezuela
or Brazil chooses to sell a portion of its
land a Slight extension of principle
compels us to assume a protectorate
over all these republics"
Such policy, the speaker said, would
require an immense standing army. The
United States is the only nation so sit
uated that it can with honor and safety
move upon the pathway OF peace for an
international court of arbitration.
I'VE have no fear of the countries
south or north of us" he said, land al
the transports and navies Of the world
could not land upon our shores an army
which could march 100 miles on a sea
coast and ever return to their ships
Secure in our isolation, supreme in oui
resources, uneQualed in our reserves
and free from dangerous neighbors
we occupy among the nations of the
globe a position so exalted and safe
that to compare us with the other cOun
tries would be absurd The statesman
or politician who really fears for the
safety of this country is a fool The
statesman or politician who does no
fear because he knows better, and ye
who breaches of our weakness and Oul
vulnerability, is a demagogue and HI
insults the intelligence of the Ameri
| can people"