Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1897-03-11

ed with them the settlement of their own
domestic concerns. 1t will be our aim to
pursue firm and dignifed foreign policy,
which shall be just, impartial, ever watch
| full of our national honor and always in
sisting upon the enforcement of the lawful
rights of American citizens eve:ywher
Our diplomacy should seek nothing mC~c
! and accept nothing less; we must avoid
the temptation of territorial aggression.
War should never be entered upon until
| every agency of peace has failed; peace
| is preferable to war in almost every con-
| tingency.
| Arbitration is the true method of set
Element of international as well as local
/ or individual difference. 1t was recog-
| niZed as the best means of adjustment of
! differences between employers and en-
ployes by the Forty-ninth Congress, in
| 1888, and its application was extended TO
our diplomatic relations by the unanimous
concurrence of the Senate and House OF
| the Fifty-frst Congress, in 1890. Ihe
| latter resolution was accepted as the OASIS
| of negotiations with us by the British
| House of Commons, in 1898, and upon our
invitation treaty of arbitration between
| the United States and Great Britain was
signed at Washington and transmitted
| to the Senate for it's ratification, in jan
| uary last Since this treaty is clearly the
| result of our own initiative; since 1t mas
been recognized as the leading feature OF
our foreign policy throughout our entire
national history--the adjustment OF drill
i culties by judica !-thods rather than by
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 example certain
| to be followed by others, | respectfully
urge the early action of the Senate there
| on, not merely as a matter OF pollcy, put
| as a duty to mankind.
| The Importance and moral influence or
| the ratification of such treaty can hard
| ly be overestimated in the cause OF ad-
| vancing civilization. 1t may we'll engage
| the best thought of the statesmen and
| people of every country, and l cannot
| but consider it fortunate that it was re-
served to the United States to have the
| leadership in so grand work.
Extra Session of Congress.
| 1t has been the uniform practice OF each
| President to avoid, so far as possible, the
| converting of Congress in extraordinary
session. 1t is an example which, under
sence of public necessity, is to be COM
| mended. But failure to convene the
representatives of the people in Congress
| in extra session when it involves neglect
of public duty places the responsibility
| of such neglect upon the executive him
self. The condition Of the public treas
| ury, as has been indicated, demands the
| immediate consideration Of Congress. 1t
alone has the power to provide revenues
| for the Government. Not to convene it
| under such circumstances l can view in
| no other sense than the neglect of plain
duty.
do not sympathize with the sentiment
| that Congress in session is dangerous to
| our general business interests. Its men,
| bers are the agents of the people, and
! their presence at the seat of Government
| in the execution of the sovereign will
should not operate as an injury, but ben
| eft. There could be no better time to
| put the Government upon a sound finan-
| cial and economic basis than now. The
people have only recently voted that this
should be done, and nothing is more bind
| ing upon the agents of their will than the
| obligation of immediate action.
1t has always seemed to me that the
| postponement of the meeting of Congress
until more than q year after it has been
chosen deprives Congress too often of the
| inspiration of the popular will and the
| country of the corresponding benefits. 1t
| is evident, therefore, that to postpone ac-
| ton in the presence of SO great neces-
sity would be unwise on the part of the
executive because unjust to the interests
of the people. Our actions now will be
| freer from mere partisan consideration
| thop sc 4bo QUESTION Of TO riff, yCio WAC
postponed until the regular session of
| Congress. We are nearly two years, from
| a congressional election, and politics can
| not so greatly distract us as if such con-
| test was Immediately pending. We can
| approach the problem calmly and patri-
otically, without fearing it's effect upon an
early election. Our fellow citizens who
may disagree with us upon the character
| of this legislation prefer to have the ques-
| ton settled now, even against their pre-
conceived views-and perhaps settled so
reasonably, as I trust and believe it will
| be- as to insure great permanence-than
| to have further uncertainty menacing the
vast and varied business interests of the
| United States. Again, whatever action
| Congress may take will be given fair
| opportunity for trial before the people are
called to pass judgment upon it, and this
| 7 consider a great essential to the rightful
and lasting settlement of the question.
| In view of these considerations, SHAH
deem it my duty as President to convene
| Congress in extraordinary session on Mon.
day. the 18th day of March, 1897.
| Triumph of the Whole People.
In conclusion, | congratulate the coun'
try upon the fraternal spirit of the peopls
| and the manifestation of good will every
| where so apparent The recent election
not only most fortunately demonstrated
| the obliteraton of sectional or geograph-
| zeal lines, but to some extent also the
prejudices which for years have distract
ed our councils and marred our true
greatness as a nation. The triumph Of
| the people, whose verdict is carried into
| effect to-day, is not the triumph of one
.oo+;o, nor wholly Of ono marty h11t If