The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-01-30

| :,
San Juan dispute which WAS the su bJecb
OF our last boundary arbitration WIN
Groat Britain, was submitted to the de-
clslon OF the Emperor OK Germany as Sole
arbitrator. But more conclusive an
swers,than an appeal TO precedent Is
found In the fact that this treaty provides
that all territorial claims, and all dis
putes involving principles of general I'm
pnrtance affecting national rights, are to
| be dealt with by a court exclusively
composed of American and British judges
and that such controversies cannot be
| decided against us unless two out of
three Of our representatives concur in
| thinking us in the wrong.
Why THE TREATY SHOULD BE
RATIFIED.
| A candid examination of the treaty will
show that while fairly covering all sub
jects proper to be submitted to judicial
| decision, it has been drawn with unusual
caution and precision, so as to protect
the just rights Of each country For
claims purely peouniary, tribunals. are
provided having a so-callsd umpire, but
all graver disputes are to be finally decld-
ed without the presence of an umpire,
and only by an almost unanimous vote,
unless, indeed, both parties are satisfied
with the decision made by less major,
| ity. 1t also appears that in ca SO or maj
disagreement on such important matters,
before q resort to hostile action OF any
description, the medic OF friendly
power must be invoked, which mediation
in its very nature will be only advisory
and will leave the two parties CONCERNED
entirely free in the exercise OF tpelr
rights of sovereignty; and that therefore
| the approximations expressed by some,
| that the treaty may involve renuncla-
tion OF. the Monroe doctrine in any aocep-
tation of the term, or of any OF our ieglt-
innate rights Of sovereignty, are entirely
| groundless.
| For the settlement of all disputes Of
greater Importance than mere pecuniary
claims, the treaty simply furnishes to
the contracting parties well devised OPP
portun,ties for judicial discussion Of the
points ssin controversy, to the end OF
facilitating peaceful und erstandlng.
1t will prevent the preoipitate opening OF
hOstilities under the spur of needless pas
sion. It will give sudden excitsments
time to cool and make way for calm
reason. 1t will discourage the advocacy
of war for reasons that cannot stand the
scrutiny of an unimpassioned and well
Informed Judgment. While not render
ing war absolutely impossible, Ii Will
make it 30 improbable, SO remote con-
| tingenoy, that we shall be spared those
wasteful disturbances of the business OF
the country which are sometimes caused
| by groundless rumors OF impending con-
| fict. 1t cannot fail, therefore, to be a
strong safeguard of peace between the
two great nations concerned in it, and
as the glorious example Is likely to he
followed by other countries-n blessing
to mankind.
| The initiation of the movement for es-
ia blisniDg permanent system Of arbi-
tration, of which this treaty between the
United States and Great Britain is the
| frat fruit, forms one of the most honora-
BILE pages in American history. The
American people will oertainlysnot fail to
great cause whichIis the cause of .advanc-
ing civilization.
| For these reasons the committees. being
convinced after careful study that the
treaty deserves all the oommendations
bestowed upon 1t by friends OF peace and
progress.t hrous hout the world, express
| the confident hope thatsthe Senate Of the
United States will soon give the treaty
| tine sanction Of ITS approval.
Respectfully submitted,
william Z. Dodge,
John W. Foster,
| sal J. b. Moore,
| Lyman J. Gage,
| Horace Davis,
Henry Hitchcock.
| G. @. Harrison,
| Chas. e. Fenner,
Chas. W. Eliot,
Simeon e. Baldwin,
| o. NJ. Key,
Nelson A. Miles,
j. Randolph Tucker,
Fleming Du Bignon,
Carl Sohurz,
William n. Taft,
Gardiner 6. Hubbard,
Herbert Welsh,
j. b. Converse,
George A. Pilsbury,
Alex T. Humphrey,
L. r. Chamberlain,
George L. Riyes.
william G. Gray,
W. A. Fuller,
Moorfeld Storey,
Edward Atkinson,
Josiah Crosby,
A. T. McGill,
Oscar r. Hundley.