The record-union., 1897-02-20
Determined Opposition to Ratification
of the Measure.
Daniel of Virginia Declares
That in it the United States Would
Bind Itself With Shackles-POints
Out That the Whole r1ethod of
England is Acquisition, and That
She Will Continue Her Spoliations
With Weaker Nations, While
Binding This Government to
Peace.

WASHINGTON, Feb. Ex-senator
Sherman was prompt in making good
his promise, made in executive session
to the friends of tine arbitration treaty,
to ask the Senate to go into executive
session to-day for the purpose of con-
sidering the treaty with tine hope of
concluding its consideration before the
day of adjournment.
Senator Nelson made an earnest ap-
peal for the adoption of his motion to
postpone the treaty until the 9th of
March. He said he spoke as a friend
Of the treaty, but was convinced from
what he had seen and heard that final
action was out of the question at the
present session. He admitted that his
special interest was to give time for the
consideration of the bankruptcy bill,
for the passage of which he said there
was a crying demand from all parts
of the country
Senators Teller and Stewart support
ed the motion to postpone in brief
speeches.
Platt urged prompt action. He said
that while the treaty was new the sub
ject of arbitration was old and the
country was fully prepared to accept
with favor the Senate's ratification of
the present document.
Lodge followed Platt in five minute
speech, in which he appealed to the
advocates cf postponement to withdraw
their opposition to a vote on ratifica-
tiOn, and receiving no favorable re-
sponse, put the question direct whether
~ IL
To this inquiry Teller responded
saying that there was no intention on
the part of the advocates of postpone
ment to permit an immediate vote. He
did not think a vote could be secured
to-day, for he did not consider that
there was time to discuss the subject
sufficiently to bring out all the points
of the treaty. He thereupon proceed
ed to make a speech on the merits of
the treaty. He dwelt upon the fact that
there had not been sufficient time for
Sena tors to give the agreement the
attention its Importance demands, and
said that he would not agree to a vote
until ne should have opportunity to
point out what he conceived to be the
defects of the document.
In view of this occurrence and others
equally significant. it became evident to
the supporters of the treaty by 2 O'Clock
that if they secured a vote at all to-day
it would not be until late and that the
chances Were against a vote at any
hour of the day.
Teller was very vigorous in his oppo-
sition to tine treaty He reiterated the
points made in his statement publish
ed last Monday; besides, he added, the
more the treaty was discussed the
more necessary it became to postpone,
in order to give proper consideration to
such a 'bungling document" No one,
ne declared. could tell what it meant
or could cOnstrue its provisions He
would not say that he could support
the treaty, but in its present
form, and on the lack of considera ton,
he certainly should vote against it.
Moreover, it was we'll known that
two-thirdS ma jority of the Senate was
not in favor of the treaty
Senator Daniel of Virginia made a
strong speech against the document.
He was opposed to it on several
grounds. He declared that under it
the United States bound itself with
shackles. II love the blood of the rev.
olution," declared the Senator. War is
often a good thing. Revolution is
often progress. The Senate has never
declared war unjustifiabIe. For TWEEN
ty years this country has made rec
ord of peace. The United States has
never acquired territory by war, ex-
cept in a war of self-defense."
On the other hand, the Senator point
ed out that the whole method and
scheme of England was acquisition.
Ever grasping and greedy, always
reaching out for more territory, the
only nation she feared, the only nation
with strength to cope with her, was
the United States. 1t was the power
Of this treaty to bind the United States
to peace. With shackles on this coun-
try, England could continue her spolia-
tions Of weaker nations. and when she
interfered with what was considered
the rights of the United States or
countries under our protection, arbitra-
ton would step in with a hostile tri-
bunal against US.
The Sesato said that he opposed
giving away this rights of the Senate
as a part of the treaty-making power.
To submit many questions to arbitra-
ton would be impolitic. We had al
ways had good Presidents, but some
time there might be bad one. Then
the country would suffer
Mr.. Daniel also opposed to selecting
Judges of the Supreme Court as mem
berS of the tribunal. He objected to
mixing our judiciary with foreign COM
plications; beside. some of the ques-
tions submitted might come before our
courts. He also insisted that the
United States members of the tribunal
should be confirmed by the Senate.
At the close of Senator Daniers
speech Senator Hoar submitted some
questions 10 him. He wanted to know
If Senator Daniel did not think it sat
isfactory that men who had been con-
firrned to such places as Judges of
the Supreme Court should SIT as ar
bitrators without again being confirmed
by the Senate
Mr.. Daniel replied that the Senate
r. i 1. -