Evening star., 1897-01-27


amount to $30G1.00o, 600; nearly all the di-
rect result of war. The annual interest of
these debts is about 81 1.G0.sH,t1O. And far
worse than all this is the constant burden
of Standing armies. Austria ana Italy
maintain each a regular army and navy of
over :a0,VD men.
Russia maintains nearly !oa.9a mer.
and Germany and France each over 6s,.01o
men: while England supports in the same
manner about 2i0.1n. These six nations
withdraw from productive industry strong
ana vigorous men and then tax their people
to support them as soldiers. The annual
loss to these states is. therefore. about
Sl,Gb1VouH So long these arlnanents
last. the existing national debts cannot he
paid Under the weight of ceaseless and
accommodating burdens, the people lose al,
hope. A new batch of revolutions then sue
oeeds. and the national authority must he
indicated only by an increase of existing
| evils. Whether the rich become richer in
this miserable system of government is
doubtful, but it is perfectly certain that
the poor are constantly becoming poorer,
and worse still the numbers of the poor in
crease with alarming rapidity.
Il forbear to mention our own war debts
or the consequent annual burdens of inter-
est, pensions, fortiiications and ornaments
of defense. If not fully known TO III all
their vast extent, they are surely felt hy
the people And from the oppression of
| their burdens comes all that dangerous
brood of political questions which threa,en
| our future peace and prosperity.
Call me sentimentalist if you choose
Being man / cannot but be Interested in
all that concerns mankind. Mankind is
deeply interested in this question, and for
one l sincerely nope that the example OF
| this treaty may spread till hat glorious
| dream of Isaiah may be realized "nen Ma
tion shall not lift up sword against nation,
| neither shall they learn war any more.
| Justice Brewers speech.
| Associate Justice Brewer OF the Supreme
Court Of the United States. and a member
| of the Venezuelan arbitrat tion commission.
| spoke briefly. He said he had attended the
| meeting merely to be counted in favor OF
| this arbitra ton treaty between the United
| States and Great Britain. He did not be-
| lieve in making an imperative demand
| upon the Senate for the ratification OF the
treaty.
| There is something in my nature that
resents any attempt to force me against
| my will-when anybody says you must
| say i WON'T"
So he believed there should be no at
| tempt on the part of the country to force
| the Senate. The senators were charged
| with great responsibility in the ratification
| of treaties, and 1t was their duty to ex-
anime treaties carefully before acting on
| them.
Il believe that the gentlemen OF the Sem
| ate, when they come TO consider this ques-
| tion,' he sad will not approach ii In the
| spirit which moved the Kansas politician
| when he said he was in favor of ihe law.
| but against its enforcement. They wont
| approach ii i'm the spirit OF those who talk
| eloquently about arbitration n the abstract
| but vote against it in the concrete. They
| will desire to do that which Is best for the
interests not alone of this country, but of
the world
Justice Brewer continued to say that
| many people favor arbitration only when
they think it will decide questions in their
favor. What was wanted was an intelli-
gent. Independent and impartial tribuna
notwithstanding the mistakes of the courts
and risks run in submitting a case to a
judicial tribunal the losses that might be
met in such event could not be compared
to the waste and carnage of war.
Il am in favor of the adoption of this
treaty. said Justice Brewer. because now
| there is d chance to have arbitration. For
generations nations have sung the glories
| of peace, but there never has been chance
| for this nation TO have an international
court appointed until today. 1t cannot be
brought into being by this nation alone
| 1t takes the consent of two nations. ard for
the first time two nations have agreed tha
they will settle their disputes by arbitra-
| ton. If this nation rejects this arbitration
| treaty, who shall say that another time
will come when another such opportunity
will be presented?"
Other Brief Speeches.
Ex-Governor Stanard of Missouri of the
national board of trade was introduced
, and spoke briefly. and read resolutions tha
had been adopted by the national board o.
Thomas Nelson Page was presented Il
: the audience, and said he heartily agreed
, with all that had been said in favor of In
!. ternational arbitration. He said he thought
, there disposition the part OF
those attending the meeting to instruct
the Senate of the United States as to theil
duties. He had confidence in the wisdom
/ OF the Senate, and he felt confident thai
the Senate would not throw away the op
portunity to secure arbitration, now pre-
: sented for the first time.
. Where America is concerned he said
I Il know no other party, but believe thai
+ America should be right and 1 believe she
I is not going to throw away this great oc
I casion for proving that she, with the otheI
EnSlish-speaking race, Is ready to hold
aloft the standard of peace and progress.
I Mr. Page said for himself he had feel
ing for England, though his feeling wa:
r not toward the individual, but toward tha
England which stands for principles o.
I ! free government, ami which gave birth t
r America.
+ Rev. Alexander Mackay-Smith favored
8 the principle of arbitration, and he wanted
to it first established by people wht
speak the English tongue.
Cardinal GibbOns' Letter.
I letter from Cardinal Gibbons was read
:, expressing his regret at not being able t
e attend the meeting, and closing as fol
lows:
, while ! am heartily in sympathy witt
e the object of this meeting and ardentl,
hope that the promise held out to us b,
this treaty of settling our disputes with
: out those threats and rumors of war 50
l disturbing to public peace and business
will be fulfilled, L regret that a previous
engagement, which i cannot postpone, will
prevent me from joining in person the dis
:, tinguished gentlemen who have issued thi
call in approving the principle of arbitra
tion. For this cause a joint letter ha
: been published, expressing the sentiment
u = of Cardinals Vaughan and Logue and my
J | self. l am sure that not less ardentl,
II | than l they hope their efforts in the caus,
: | of peace will not be in vain.
Faithfully yours, in Christ.
{ (Signed) JAMES CARD. GIBBONS"
Resolutions Adopted.
e John Joy Edison then offered the follow
ing resolutions:
''Whereas tariffs and taxation are uni
j versally recognized practical business
0 questions for the consideration of the cit
= izen and taxpayer;
/ Whereas the war debts Of nations arr
r the main cause and corner stone of tariff