The San Francisco call., 1897-02-09
UNITkRIANS WANT
A TREATY TRIBUNAL
They Commend the Arbitra-
tion Treaty Recently
Nego tiate d.
Addresses by DR.. Jordan, Rev
Mr.. Adams, Bernard Moses.
Dr.. Stebbins, Col. Irish,
DR.. Jordan's Severe Comments Upon
the Seal Fisheries Arb
tration.


Unitarian Club took place at the Cali
foTnIa last night. There were over hun
dred persons present, many of them
among the most prominent in the City.
The banquet, which was elaborate, lasted
about an hour and half.
The question to be discussed was the
general one of arbitration as it has been
brought forward between this country
and England.
DR.. David Starr Jordan spoke in regard
to the fur seals of Alaska. He told OF his
recent visit to the rookeries and went into
figures to show that the seals were de-
creasing and needed to be protected.
The doctor went into the history OF the
contest between England and the United
States as to their respective claims to the
seals. he commended DR.. Merriam, VIII o
was sent there some years ago to make in
vestigations for the United States.
IF America had let DR.. Merriam re-
main there long enough there would have
been no arbitration" said the doctor; 1--WE
would have had the fur seals, and that
wouldnave been the end of II.
lone contention was that the seals were
ours wherever they were. and another was
that they ought 10 be preserved. There
have been 100000 females killed at sea,
4000 900 pups have starved to death and
100000 young unborn seals have been
killed with their mothers.
"Great Britain has laid herself out for q
compromise. That is what she wanted.
She had no right and she was willing to
compromise. Before the Paris tribunal
there was no agreement OF what the facts
were. When the contestants came before
the tribunal, no conditions having been
agreed upon, one set OF arguments was
just as good as another. The Canadian
affldavits cost the price OF the drinks; the
American affdavIts got through the secret
service probably cost thousands of dollars
We provided for a compromise and no
compromise was possible"
DR.. Jordan went into all the minute de-
tails of the life of the fur seals, the diff
ferent methods of killing them, the atti-
tude of Russia, and finally said that the
decision of the Paris tribunal was really
in our favor. Many cheers were gwen
DR.. Jordan at the close of his address.
The Rev. DR.. George c. Adams of the
Congregational Church was announced as
the next speaker. He said that, being
minister, he had prepared a talk along the
lines of peace.
The most hateful quarrels ever known
have been family quarrels. Any one who
has read the Origin OF Nations" must
have been impressed with the truths
brought forward in it. 1t is to the spirit
OF concession that l desire 10 call your at
tention. The concessions shown by Abra-
ham and Isaac resulted in great strength
to them. 1t is so in all similar cases.
There is a relation of nations as well as of
individuals. | think it was in 1884 that
the first work on international law was
written.
General Grant could hardly bear the
sight of the wounded IN battle. 1t sick
ened him and, like many other great
men, be wanted war no more. War Drugs
down and never lifts up. The nation
best prepared for war is the best prepared
for peace"
Professor Bernard Moses of the State
University spoke on the attitude of demo-
Gratis and democracy in this country
toward arbitration. He said if we were a
monarchy we would have a different
opinion regarding arbitration. The ma
tions most stiff1v for monarchy are most
stiff1y for war. If there is no other settle
menJ for disputes but the European way,
then there is no other way for Us. The
spirit of war has not died out. The rising
generation is as eager for war as the one
that has passed. This is not an age of
peace. Never were there so many i'm
portant wars as during this century. But
in arbitration is the basis, the hope of our
republican civilization.
The Rev. DIR. Stebbins was called on to
speak on arbitration and Christianity.
He said singular as it might seem Chris
tianity was rather vague term.
But the intent of it is the welfare of
men, of nations and the human race. Tne
world has been governed by fear and force
and is largely so governed now. The
ig1ominy of having nothing worth lighting
Tor is worse than war. The principal
feature of this treaty is that it IS fairly
proposed. What becomes of it is destined
to have a great effect on future genera
tions. | take great pride in it.
II ask you to believe in this arbitration,
hope for it, work for it. a great principle
is i'm m ortaI. 1t never dies"
He received much applause for his ad-
ress. The president asked for an express
dion of opinion. He said Horace Davis
shad provided a resolution, and he asked
for the reading of it. II was read bv
Sheldon Kellogg, and was unanim ously
adopted as follows:
ResolTed, BY the Unitarian Club of CaIifor-
MIA. that any differences or disputes arising
between the United States and Great Britain
which cannot be adjusted by Diplomatic
agencies should be referred to arbi tration.
and that a tribunal for that purpose ought to
be established by treaty arrangements between
the Two nations.
Horace Davis said the only objection he
had TO it was that il was not strong
enough. He wanted something that
would ask the support of the United
States Senate.
Mr.. Kellogg then submitted the follow
ing supplementary resolution:
ResoIUed, That the Unitarian Club of Califor-
MIA commends the general arbitration treaty