New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-19
THE ARBITRATION TREATY
CORRESPONDENCE SENT TO THE SEN
ATE BY THE PRESIDENT.


couNTRY's POLICY TO REVIEW
BY FOREIGN POWER
rsY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBuNE.1
Washington. Jan. 1s.-The President trans
nnitted to the Senate to-day an interesting. II
not important. batch OF correspondence bearing
upon the arbitration treaty A pernsai OF TINS
correspondence makes II plain that 1t Is not so
much this Government as 1t is the BRUSH
which Is anxious to See the convention go ,ht'
effect. 1t appears. in fact. that. though the
first steps looking toward the negotiation Oh
some kind Of general arbitration treaty: were
taken at the suggestion OF General Gresham
the whole matter dropped soon after. ana
taken up agan-this time. however, by 'nc
British Government-when Ambassador Bayard
was instructed to press upon Lord Salisbury
the desire Of the United States Government to
have the Venezuela dispute submitted to arpl-
:ration Then, and not until then. did the Brit
Ish Government take an interest in negotia-
tons which, up TO that time. no doubt had
seemed to partake Of the nature OF an academic
debate. but now promised to become intensely
practical.
SENATOR'S OPINION.
"T,meo Danaos ct dona ferentes." remarked
a Senator to-day, who occupies an influential
place on the Senate Committee on Foreign Re-
lations We'll certainly examine very closely
this proposition involved in the treaty pelore
asserting 10 it. Well do so not only because
we know the 'gift-bearing Greeks Of DID, but
also because the seemingly universal acclaim
with which the treaty is received by Europ"
has aroused some suspicion in our minds. we
have worried along for over eighty years WITH
out war with England or any other European
Power and II is reasonable to suppose that we
can continue to do for some years to come.
We are not in the habit Of going about with
chip on our shoulders. and there certainly is no
prospect Of our raising difficulties in Europe or
in other parts Of the world which Great Britain
may deem as interfering with her interests
We shouldn't think for instance. of disputing
her title TO the Channel Islands. or object 10
her continuing the occupation of Egypt we
would look with indifference, perhaps. to her
ACQUISITION of a few more Islands in the Medi-
terranean; We would, in all proba bility. STAND
by with perfect unconcern and see her punish
a refractory Sultan Of Zanzibar by the seizure
Of his territory. or conduct brilliant campaign
Of conquest into the land of the Ashantees OF d
less brilliant against the Beers or Sou'h
Africa but we couldn't be expected to sit 1diy
by while she attempted to force US INTO SUI
hitting to the arbitration of a European Power
what our conduct should be in Venezuela, III
Cuba in Nicaragua, even in Hawai-
THE OPPOsITIONs ARGUMENTS
1t is this feeling that the treaty. as 1t now
stands submits certain features OF the foreign
policy of the United States TO review by lor-
eign Power which furnishes TO the opposition
It's most effective material Mr. Olney has de-
clared. Notwithstanding the denials made by 'he
Russian Minister here that such language was
used by the Secretary in his presence. MT OlneI
declared elsewhere
times that the distinctive merit OF the treat!
consisted in its forcing Great Britain 10 JON tne
United States in maintaining the Monroe DOC
trine. Senator Chandler and The Lonoor
Times are of the opinion that 1t does nothing
of the kind. They are supported IN TINS view
by many writer's in the press and ELSEWHERE
And though il must be assumed that so astute
man as Secretary Olney is conceded to be knew
what he doing when he put his name 10 so
important a convention, 1t shows clearly the
necessity of examining closely treaty when
will tie the hands of those charged with the
conduct Of the foreign relations OF the United
States for at least five years TO come.
The pupits of the country rang yesterday II
the different accounts are to be trusted, with un-
siinted praise Of the treaty, as If its ratcatlon
would usher in an Of peace and goodwill on
earth If not indeed, the millennium. Not one
of the reverend gentlemen-and this is said with
all possible respect for the office they f-from
the Rev T. De Witt Talmage. who preached in
this city. and the Rev. j. Heber Newton. who
eloquently held forth in New-York. down to the
lesser lights I'm more obscure corners of the coun-
try could have examined the treaty, judging
from the newspaper reports Of their sermons.
The whole Methodist Church is in favor of my
treaty" Mr.. Oney Is reported TO have exclaimed.
That may be. but 1t is doubtful. There are some
Indications, in fact, that 1t is not
PEACE SOCIETIES AT WORK
AS might be expected. representatives of peace
and arbitration societies find Washington just
now an interesting field IN which to prosecute
their work. There is scarcely a Senator who has
not been approached by one of these agents and
urged. with a great deal of vehemence if the
fate of the universe depended upon ii. 10
sent TO a prompt ratification OF the treaty. De-
liberation won't do; ii is promptness that is
quired. How else they argue, Is the full moral
effect Of this sublime act to be realized: 1t has
been the privilege of the correspondent of Tie
Tribune to listen in person to some Of the argu
ments advanced by these men; others he has
Ceiyed at secondhand from Senator's 10 whom
they were addressed. In each and every
they were based on the general desirability OF
arbitration the only civilized and Christian
method of settling international disputes and
in not a single instance did the advocates of the
treaty condescend TO discuss the details the
probable outcome Of the arbitration schemes IN
the Olney Pauncefote treaty. Give IL trial.
any way" argued one with good deal Of ear
nestness: what possible harm can come of IT If
we give it trial for five years." The Senator
to whom this rat her plaintive appeal was adj
dressed replied unfeelingly My dear Sir would
you consent to hang ten minutes by the neck for
the sole purpose OF proving TO some one else That
II viii do you no harm
THE FISHERIES DISPUTE RECALLED
l, is not only the transmission of the corre-
spondence 10 the Senate. already referred to.
however. which is strengthening the hands of the
opposition but it is also the presence in the city.
1ust now. Of two representatives of the Liberal
party in Canada which serves 10 recall to Sena-
tors the practical and decidedly unforeseen re
suits sometimes achieved by arbitration. the
general object of the visit of these representa-
tives was accurately outlined in a recent dis
patch to The Tribune. Put briefly, ii L. 10 see
what can be done with the incoming Admnstra-
ton and the LVth Congress In the way OF secur
ing greater reciprocity between Canada and the
United States. The result Of their visit so far
has been 10 impress upon their minds in a very
ha nothing. need lie