The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-01-04
Rsltor POTTER
Discusses the War Question IN No Tn
certain Tone

New York Tribune
Rlshon Potter, when asked yc8tcClay at
his home No 80 WASHINGTON Square.
North, about tho Venezuelan situation,
said To a Tribune reporter;
"'rhe world. during tho past week, has
been treated to y very Impressive Illus.
tration ot the difference between politics.
and statesmaushtN. Two nations on an.
other continent haVe a difference about a
boundary line Thc stropgcr of she two
Is allivd u US by race and lincagt. the
weaker Is a survival u a civilization
which once Threatened tho liberties VI the
Anslc-SNNon wotll. One ct them claims
to ave n case huttrcssci IVY ample evil
dencc and capable rrOot hy historic docu,
mcuts % ~mdisrutah,c authority, the other
has. thus tar mainly coptcntCt itself
with large c)aims and vague statements,
AT this point a third ration. which r.,
or which claims 20 be more powerful
h either, intcrVCuVS not 20 ask, as Il
might properly do IS the champion %
the weaker nation. that the nroofs " the.
claims of Tho struugc I've given 20 the
world, hut ti3t the whole question shah
Ne submitted IL Tho decision " n conf
mission appointed by i%,srlf-it hclnv dis
tinctly and explicitly hostile 20 the claims
81 one % the two parties az issue. and
therefore disqualified from actipg im-
partially-with the threat behind its de.
mandc OF war.
This Is not craftsmanship States
mapship means among other things
knowledge, forcsight. d%clibcratlop. the
habit % cool Judgment. and, In its highest
aspect. the instinct o. equity. No ono
20 these would seem 20 have been present
IN the spectacle to which lately We have
been treated, \ doctrine uhc MonroeN
has been invoked which eminent pub
licists assure US has only the most re-
mote and indirect hearing upon the Ques-
ton at issue \ method Of settlement
has been proposed which. " It had been
proposed 90 ourselves, would have bcen
laughed out 81 court with the most rn-
disguised contempt; and nm alternative
has been threatened. Il not invoked.
whose tremendous consequences are treat.
ed almost as lightly as u thoy were those
OF a came " lawn tennis
The ministers o. the Prince uf Peace
may well remember those consequences
supremacy at this moment. when Chris
tendon pauseS with listening ear 20 catch
the first strains OF that angelic hymn
which, OF the morning OF the birthday Of
the Savior Of the world. sang above the
manger Of the Babe Of Bethlehem. Glory
to God In the highest. and on earth peace. |
NVNANAl 10 men /
III. as the Apostle ST. Peter reminds
us, the dumb ass, speaking with mans
voice. forbade the madness u u man who
claimed 10 be a prophet. then the hum I
blest messenger Of Jesus Christ may rot
refuse 10 lift up his voice against 4
recklcSsneSs OF prccipltaucy, m a pas
sion for the display OF p~inchback patriot
ism. which are alike unworthy the name
OF American and Christian War Is 4
relic Of harbarism at It's best estate.
When prosecuted for the highest and
hottest ends there still follow immeas
urable evils in its train, OF which. In this
land. we are feeling the grave and de-
teriorating effects. though Il Is more than
n third OF a century since they were set
In operation. Even a Hebrew bonds
man can set us an example with his swift
cry. 'Sirs, We are brethren, why DO We
this thing? in such an emergency as
this.
May no lust OF conquest. no base pas
sion innaming US TO hamiliate a powerful
rival. no blind following OF demagogues
eager TO pande- to the worst. eager not
10 appeal to the best In their fellow men;
and. above all. not tolerance OF a leader
ship crazed with the love OF place and
eager to outwit a political adversary. per-
suade US 10 forget our duty as a Chris
tian nation to cultivate the graces Of pa
thence, ~forbearance and a lofty ~self-re-
straint-which are the best graces OF
strong men-and SO to study things that
make for peaceg'"