Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-11-27
ARb|TRATE NOTHING
Meaning Of the Emasculated Pro.
posals That Are Now Be.
4. ing Talked About,
SCHEME THAT Is FULL OF HOLES

trine Also Very Great-Cabinet Consider
the President's Message-Nothing Ofhcial
From Canada Regarding Rejection Of the
United States Sealing Ultimatum.
Washington. Nov. 27-Questions "af-
fecting the honor and integrity Of the
nation are to be excepted from the
treaty OF arbitration between the Unit
ed States and Great Britain. This in q
word Is the gist Of. the Mckinley ad-
ministration's attitude on this very in
terestins and important subject. The
United States senate, 1t would appear.
is to be the Judge Of what questions
do affect the honor and integrity of
the nation" By their vote members Of
the senate might declare any subject,
from pelagic sealing to immigration re-
strictions, "a matter touching the ma
toms honor and integrity" and refuse
to submit IL to the arbitrating tribunal.
Any subject might thus remain a SUBJ
Ject Of dispute or become a cause for
war. Therefore. it is said by certain
Statesmen who were friendly to the
olney-Pauncefote treaty which was re-
5ected by the senate that the modified
affair to be offered at the coming ses-
sion Of congress is TO be an emasculated
imitation. having not even the weight
of a moral obligation, and leaving the
whole subject exactly where it is now.
Monroe Doc,rtne Is In the Way.
1t Is admitted by all but the most
extreme arbitrationists that there are
some questions which cannot be SUBJ
mitted to arbitration without O sacrifice
OF our dignity and virility as one Of the
earths greatest powers. A wantcn in.
suit or a bold encruachment on our WELL
recognized territorial boundaries would
threaten our very existence and impera-
lively demand the reply that only q
cannon can make. The Monroe doctrine
also Is usually regarded as too vital a
thing TO be endangered by submission to
any arbitrative tribunal whose decision
would admit Of no appeal, and it Is
especially in the interests Of the Monroe
doctrine that this vague phrase about
honor and integrity is inserted. 1t is a
matter Of grave doubt in the minds of
many advanced statesmen whether any
cast-iron treaty for the final adjustment
by arbitration Of international disputes
can be made, or whether, being made, 1t
would have more than . moral effect;
Its decisions in any matter Of real in
terest giving way to an appeal to arms.
Cabinet Discusses the Message.
The cabiaet meeting called together
every member of the presidents official
family yesterday and lasted fully half
an hour longer than usual. Notwith-
standing this it was said that the BRO.
ceedings were generally Of a routine
nature. The president has not finally
completed his message to congress. The
matter is, however, in such shape that
II can be put in form for the printer
at days notice, but this notice has
not yet been given and the cabinet spent
most OF the time of the session going
over once more certain portions Of the
document. One of the portions was the
very first chapter of the message, treat
ing OF the foreign relations of our gov
ernment. 1t is the intention Of the
president to devote much attention in
his message TO the subject Of trade re-
lations and reciprocity. so that there
was some talk respecting the positions
assumed by the great European sugar
PAoouS<h5 Countries, tndt tue iay1ES OF
a countervailing duty on sugar to off,
set the home paid bounty amounts to
unjust discrimination.
Have Not Heard from Canada,
No word OK the reported rejection by
the Canadian government Of the PROPOSE
tion Of the United States for a modus
vivendi to stop the killing OF seals while
commission is engaged in arranging
other issues between the United States
and Canada has come to the state de-
partment or TO the British embassy here.
There is no disposition in official quar-
ters to discredit the statement coming
from Ottawa to that effect, and it is
feared that the end Of the negotiations
is yet long way removed. The Cana
dian alternate proposal referred to In
the dispatches IL believed to be nothing
more than a renewal Of the original
proposal to appoint joint commission
and allow the question Of total sus-
pension OF sealing to go before IL with
other matters. This has proved un-
acceptable TO cur government hereto
fore.