The evening times., 1897-03-04
NEW PRESIDENT.

be entered upon until every agency of peace
has failed. Peace is preferable to war IN
almost every contingency. Arbitration is
the true method OF settlement OF inter
national as well as local or ineividuai
differences.
1t was recognized as the best means or
adjustment OF differences between en-
ployers and employees by the Forty-nlnth
Congress, IN 1885, and its application was
extended to our diplomatic relations by
the unsnimous concurrence of the Senate
and House OF the Fffty-first Congress In
1890. The latter resolution was accepted
as the basis of negotiations with us by
the British House OF Commons, in 1893,
and upon our invitation a treaty OF ar
bitration between the United States and
Great Britain was signed at Washington,
and transmitted to the Senate for its
ratification, in January last.
Since this treaty is clearly the result OF
our own Initiative; since il has been rec
ognized as the leading feature Of our foreign
policy throughout our entire national his
tory-thc sdjustmen Mt of difficulties by ju-
dicial methods rather than force OF arms
and since it presents to the world the
glorious example of reason and peace, not
passion and war, controlling the relations
between two of the greatest nations OF
the world, an nexample certain tob be followed
by others, / respectfully urge the early
action of the Senate thereon, not merely
as a matter ofpolicy, but as duty toman-
kind.
The Importance and moral influence OF
the ratification of such treaty can hardly
81 ~ n ,,ri n
civilization. 1t may well engage the best
thought of the statesmen and people OIL
every country, and cannot but consider it
fortunate thatit was reserved to the United
States to have the leadership in SO grand
a work.
1t has been the uniform practice of each
President to avoid, as far as possible, the
convening Of Congress in extraordinary ses-
sion. 1t is an example which, under ordi-
nary circumstances and in the absence OF
n public necessity, is to be commended.
But a failure TO convene the representatives
of the people in Congress i n extra session
when it involves neglect OF a public duty,
places the responsibility Of such neglect
upon the Executive himself. The condi-
ton of the public Treasury, as has been
indicated. demands the immediate con-
sidcration of Congress.
1t alone has the power to provide rev.
enues for the government. Not to con-
yene it under such circumstances, can
view in no ether sense than the neglect
of plain duty. do not sympathze with
the sentiment that Congress in session is
dangerous TO our general business interests.
Its members are the agents of the people,
andtheir presence the seat OF government
in the execution Of the sovereign viii
sho,lld not operate as an injury. but O
benefit.
There could be no better time to put the
government upon sound financial and
economic basis than now. The people
have only recently voted that this should
he done, and nothing is more binding
upon the agents of their will than the obli-
CATION of Immediate action. 1t has al
ways seemed to me that the postponement
of the meeting of Congress until more than
year after it has been chosen deprived
Congress too often of the inspiration Of the
ponn,ar will, and the country Of the corre-
spending benefits.
1t is evident, therefore, that to post
none action in the presence of so great
necessity would be unwise on the part
of the executive, because unjust to the
interests of the people. Oun actions now
will be freer from mere partisan con
sideration than If the question OF tariff
revision was postponed until the regular