New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-03
AMENDING THE TREATY.


ical antagonists do not mingc praise Win
blame. He invariably receives from them gen
crous support whenever his course approx
mates TO rightness. The Republicans III Con
gross and throughout the Nation gave most cor
dial commentator to all that was good III HIS
Venezuela Message. and they are now proving
themselves his best friends In the matter OF
the Arbitration Treaty with Grea. britain
The most prompt and hearty recognition OF the
good features of that measure has come from
Republicans, and the most violent Remuneration
of it from the Presidents own party III was
therefore not surprising TO find. on saturday
last, five out of six Republican Senators or the
Committee on Foreign Relations voting to re-
port the treaty favorably. and three out of four
Democrats voting against 1t. In the SENATE
Itself there is every reason to expect the cam
paign for ratifyng the treaty will he led by
Republicans and the opposition campaign by
Democrats.
The Republicans have, It Is true, made some
amendments to the text Of the treaty, but that
Is a fact for which Mr.. Cleveland and Mr.. Oh
ney have cause for gratitude rather than re-
sentiment For consideration will surely show
them that the amendments, instead OF weaken
Ing and injuring the treaty, really improve ana
strengthen IT, and make ii far more practicable
than before There are two important amend
ments. One strikes out all reference TO the
King Of Sweden and Norway as an umpire.
With all possible respect for that monarch. it
must be said that this change is wise, in view
of the peculiar relations now or formerly exist
ing between his Government and that of Great
Britain. Those relations were established, it
is true. for n temporary purpose, to serve the
exigencieS Of the Crimean War. and have per-
haps long since fallen into desuetude. Never
theless an umpire should be absolutely indie
pendent Of both parties TO the dispute. and not
one who is or has recently been under Obliga-
tons to one of them for the integrity Of his
own dOminiOnS. 1t is pity Mr. Olney did not
see that point before he signed and published
the text Of the treaty containing King Oscars
name for II Is an awkward thing TO withdraw
such an invitation when once it is given and
accepted But the King will no doubt apprc-
cate tic situation, and understand that not the
slightest personal disestecm of him is meant or
felt
The other chief amendment Is even more OBJ
viously proper and necessary, despite the wild
clamor of indignation il has evoked. II simply
provides that mo question which affects the
foreign or domestic policy Of either Of the high
contracting parties or the relations Of either
with any other State or Power by treaty or
otherwise shall be subject to arbitration I'M
der this treaty, except by special agreement"
And why not: Does Great Britain want 10
challenge and call into arbitration the United
States tariff and immigration laws or the
treaties this Government may make with the
Central and South American States? Does she
/ xrit olo 20
versy with Germany, or with our currency prob
lem? Assuredly not. Then what harm will it
do to say so in the treaty? Does the United
| States want TO arbitrate Great Britain's rela-
tons with the Transvaal. or challenge her
Egyptian policy, or judicially review her Irish
land legislation or her new education bill? 1t
is inconceivable. Then why will it, as some
say. fatally emasculate the treaty" to say in
it, specifically, that no such questions are to be
brought under its operation?
There is. indeed the strongest reason for max
Ing just such declaration, for the treaty's and
arbitration's own sake. Nothing could dis
credit the treaty and the whole principle of ar
btration more than the bringing of impractical
bic cases before the tribunal cases over which
| it had no proper jurisdiction and in which it
could not render valid and acceptable verdict
| llle treaty as originally uTdWU up SucU
cases, with resulting mistrials or disagr eements.
might have been brought forward in great
numbers. until the whole business became a
veXatlon and n laughing-stOck and the cause
of true arbitration was set back whole gen.
Grafton. This amendment in terms rules out
all such eases and confines the operation of
the treaty to cases over which the tribunal may
properly have jurisdiction and in which there
is possibility and strong probability Of its
rendering valid and satisfactory decree. The
| adoption Of it by the Senate Committee was a
good piece of work. good alike for the treaty
and for the cause Of arbitration. and it is
scarcely to be conceived that either the Ameri-
can Executive or the British Government Will
object TO it. True, it limits the scope Of the
treaty within the sanguinc anticipatiOns of
some Over-enthusastic prophets of an impend-
ing millennium. But il merely rules out the
impossible. and strengthens the practicable
And, after all, il is far better to try to arbi-
trate a few things and succeed than to try 10
arbtrate all things and fail.