The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-02-17
HURLS A VOICE AHEAD.
e. s. Senator Harris Not Yet
Being at Washington
Wishes to Be Heard on the Ar
bitratiOn Treaty.
Makes Speech in the Kansas Senate
Yesterday in Which BE Takes a
Stand Against Arbitration.

In the senate yesterday, Senator Har-
ris discussed the United States and
England.
The resolution in reference to the
gneraI arbitration treaty, reads as
follows:
Whereas, this nation has maintain
ed its Independence for over 40 years,
successfully and honorably, dealing
with all disputed foreign questions, and
! Whereas, Great Britain has been our
| Nemesis with whom our greatest con-
tention has been, and from whom our
existence was wrested, through the her
ole and patriotic sacrifice of our brave
founders and defenders at fabulous cost
of lives and money, through war and
diplomacy, therefore,
BE it resolved, by the senate of the
state of Kansas. the house of represen-
| tatiVes concurring therein that the trea-
ty of arbitration between this country
and Great Britain is neither necessary
nor wise; that while in the past this
country might have consented to arbi-
tration, it has now obtained a foremost
place in numbers, wealth, intelligence,
and commerce, without depressing the
sea with its iron clads, and with out a
vast standing army to enforce its de-
mands; that there is now no pressing
public question demanding such treaty;
that when such necessity appears, the
justice, moderation, and humanity of
our people, will be sufficient to- dispose
of the necessity, whatever it may be,
hOnorably to ourselves and justly to
others; that above every other question,
it proposes to- give over to a majority
of arbitrators, a decision of Il doctrine
which is SO intensely American, and so
| dear to our people, and the future of
all Americans that its administration
ought never be committed to or shared
by us with other powers: That such a
! treaty mu st be in fOrgetfulneSS of
| Washingtons farewell address, caution
| ing our people, To ever beware of en-
| tangling alliances and be it further re-
solved,
THAT we protest against the ratifi-
cation of said treaty as being inimical
! to the best interests of this government,
! and request our senators to strenuous
| ly oppose the same, and be it further re-
| solved that the secretary of state be,
and is hereby directed, to at once send a
| certified copy of these resolutions to
each of our senators in congress"
When the resolution was read, Sen
ator Householder, addressing himself to
| Senator Harris, said:
"As I am always in favor of peace
| against war, I should like the author of
| this resolution to state his reasons for
| desiring this treaty to be opposed"
| In reply, Senator Harris took the floor
and delivered an eloquent speech OPP
| posing the treaty. In part he said:
| Il, too am always in favor of peace
| against war, but am in favor of peace
with honor. I am not in favor of that
/
| which demands a surrender OF our in
| herent rights.
| There are people all over the coun-
| try who are clamoring for peace with
| out regard to their own interests or the
| interests of their country. They are a
| class who desire peace at any cost, and
are willing to sacrifice anything to OBJ
tain it. I do not approve in any way
| of sentiments of this kind
! Here Senator Harris read portions of
the proposed treaty, and on concluding
! continued:
This treaty is involved in obscurity.
! There is too much elaboration about it.
| If there is anything that has caused ma
| tional elimination and recriminatiOn in
the past, and will cause it in the future
it is elaborate treaties. They are like a
mans WILL the more elaborate the more
liable to cause trouble
| Senator Harris then stated that the
| treaty had been objected to by thor
! ough Americans, regardless of party.
| and in support of his statements read
question by Senators Lodge. Cullom.
Sewan and Stewart. Continuing he
said:
the kingdom Of Great Britain. Her
! home policy is admirable and COM
mands respect, but her foreign policy
is one of absolute Toryism of the rank
| est kind. She has no respect for the
| rights of either countries or persons.
! She has always stood up nnanfully, first
| last and always for the interests of
| Great bTIld1ily VI ally thAAlS
] else. Let US emulate her example and
stand up, first, last and always for
| American interests.
Let us not enter into anything with
| our hands tied. Let US not entangle our
| selves so as to preclude extrication. Let
US cross our bridges only when we come
| to them. Let us have peace that will
| promise prosperity and benefit man
| kind, and not peace which sacrifices
everything to all powerful Great Bri-
| tain"
Senator Harris here read the follow
| ing quotations from the address deliv-
cred by Ex-Chief Justice David Martin
| before the state bar association.
"There was never a war in which the
American people participated that could
have been averted by arbitration
zone difficulty with arbitration is the
impra cticability, if not impossibility of
obtaining a fair tribunal"
Continuing, he said: There are only
two nations in the world from whom
the United States could hope to get fair
play France and Russia. All other
countries in Europe are bound to Eng
land by ties of either blood interest,
and all are under her financial domina-
ton.
zone thing that styles this treaty
English. is the fact that the monetary
expression pounds is used through
out instead of dollars This brands
the treaty English, and as an English
measure we should oppose it
At the end of Senator Harris speech,
the vote on the adoption of the resolu-
ton was taken, and it carried without
| a dissenting vote.