Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-02-20

ARBITRATION.
The Opinions Of Prot. John Fiske Respect.
ing the Proposed Treaty.

Prof. John Fiske, the eminent histo-
tain terms about the arbitration treaty
and the delay of the Senate. He has
considered the matter very thoroughly
March number of the Atlantic Monthly.
III" he says. I'VE really prefer war to
peace; Il we are thirsting for draft of
treaty could long restrain us. AS Hosea
Bislow truly observes:
The right 10 be a cussed fool
Is safe from all devices human.
If the Senate should refuse to pass the
r y 10 or an snopf m Pso i * IS d pTaS
is that even this would not long delay
an inevitable movement. He says:
AS rule good causes have not long
and should the treaty thus fail for the
moment it would not be ruined, but only
delayed. In any event, it Is not likely to
of of l ifeE III acquiring IT'S nVe years lease
In discussing the treaty itself. he says
that under it NEARLY all the questions
at issue between the two countries since
1888 might have been satisfactorily adj
justcd." For instance, the payment OF
private debts to British creditors, the re-
British garrisons, the northeastern bound
AIRY. the partition of the Oregon terri
tory. the questions concerning the New
foundland fisheries. the navigation of the
great lakes. the catching of seals in
Behring sea. the difference of opinion
over Tn the re- San nJ Ivan h boundary ,,ar
to be small Likelihood of any dispute aris-
ing between this country and Great
Britain which cannot be amicably set
tied. with reasonable promptness. under
the provisions of this new arbitration
treaty.
Prof. Fiske reckons on a much closer
union hereafter in sentiment between
Great Britain and the United States than
now exists. On this point he says: "Peo-
pie who prefer civilized and gentleman
like methods of settling disputes to the
ing and Strengthening are sometimes stig-
matized by silly writers as sentimental
ists.'
In the deliberate public opinion which
has come to be so strong a force in pre-
venting war between the United States
and Great Britain. sentiment has as yet
and believed that it will by and by have
much more. In the days of Alexander
Hamilton there was very little love for
the federal union in any part of this
country. When Webster made his reply
TO Hayne. there was a growing sentiment
OF union for him to appeal to. and it was
stronger at the north than at the south.
When the civil war came at the north.
it had waXed so powerful that men We're
ready to die for it, as the Mussulman for
his prophet or the cavalier for his king.
Thus sentiment can quickly and sturdily
grow when it is favored by habits of
thought originally dictated by self inter-
est.
obviously a state of things in favor
of which strong sentiment is once en-
listed has its chances of permanence
greatly increased. l therefore hope and
believe mat in the deliberate public opin-
ion above mentioned. sentiment will by
and by have larger place than it has at
present. The abiding sentiment of
Scotchmen toward England was for many
centuries immeasurably more rancorous
than any Yankee schoolboy ever gave
vent to on the Fourth of July. There is
advent
fury should not find the friendship be-
tween the United States and Great Brit
land and England today. Toward SO de-
sirable n contamination permanent
policy Of arbitration must surely tend
In arbitration as a great principle, Prof.
Fiske has profound confidence. He points
out the many grave differences that have
been settled by arbitration since the
large interest in the present treaty lies
not SO much in the fact that it provides
for arbitration b,I as in the fact that it aim;
at making arbitration the regular and
tional disputes
He expresses the belief that in due time
arbitration may become thoroughly
established as to give the European gov
ernments the occasion they would well
come. to disarm. No event of a practi-
cal kind has happened for. a long period
that Prof; Fiske regards of as far-reach-
ing and beneficent consequences as this
treaty may prove to be.
Concerning the changed relations of the
United States to the world, he insists
that we have reached a new era and diff
ferent condition. He says the policy Of
isolation which our country has wisely
pursued for the century past cannot be
maintained perpetualy. When Wash
ington wrote his farewell address the
danger of our getting dragged into the
mighty struggle then raging in Europe
was a real and serious danger, against
which we needed to be solemnly warned
Since then times have changed. and they
are changing still. From nation scarce
ly stronger than Portugal We have be-
come equal to the strongest. Railways.
telegraphs and international industries
are making every part of the world the
ncighbOr of every other part
TO preserve Il policy of isolation will
not always be possible nor will it be de-
sirable. Situations will arise Gf they
have not already arisen in which such
moral weight as the United States can
exert will be called for. The pacificaton
of Europe. therefore. is not an affair that
is foreign to our interests. In that as
in every other aspect of the Christian
policy Of peace on earth and good will
to men, we are most deeply concerned
and every incident like the present ar
bitration treaty. that promises to adj
vance us. even by one step toward the
sublime result, it is our solemn duty 20
welcome and encourage by all the means
within our power. JOHN F1SKE.''