Evening journal., 1897-01-27
AB0oM FOH THE TREATY
Distinguished Men Favor the
Arbitration Scheme.
THE PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.


Topics In the Senate-The House over
rides the Executive Pension Bin.
wAsHINGToN, Jan. 97.--A large meet
ing Of the friends Of the arbitration treaty
between the United States and Great Brit
ain now pending in the senate was held in
tho Grand Opera House here last evening
The call for the meeting was signed by ex-
Secretary John W. Foster, who succeeded
Mr.. Blaine as secretary of state in Presi-
dent Harrlsons cabinet: Chief Justice
Melville W. Fuller Of the United states
supreme court, Bishop John f. Hurst
Bishop Henry Y Satterlee, President b.
j. Whitman Of Columbian university,
Rov. DR.. ID. j. Stafford and other prom
incnt citizons ! he purpose of the meet
ms Was stated in the call to be the public
attestation OF tho appreciation of the great
principle Of arbitration embodied in the
pending treaty. The audience was large
and distinguished one and included the
delegates to the meeting Of the national
board Of trade now in session hcrc The
meeting was called to order BY ex -Scero-
tsiTy John W. Foster, who said ia part:
Eight months aeo there was assembled
in this city a conference of representative
citizens of almost all the states of the
Union, with a view to promote the cstab
lishment Of a system or method of perma-
nent arbitration between the United States
and Great Britain. A national organiza-
tion was then effected, and the movement
was universally regarded as patriotic
and humane work.
When by the transmission TO the SEN
nte of the recently signed treaty it was
made public that the president and secre-
tary Of state had agreed with the govern
ment of Great Britain upon convention
which gave promise Of an early realization
of our long cherished hope, we who par
ticipated in that con florence felt that it
was eminently fitting that the friends Of
arbitration resident in this city and gath
cred from the various states Of the Union
should be afforded an opportunity to
come together and manifest their gratih-
cation at this important step taken IN the
dirc,tion Of permanent peace between the
two great English speaking nations and
If they saw fit TO express the hope that the
senate of the United States would place
tho stamp of its approval upon this great
instrument
Not In a Spirit OF Criticism.
=" But it is proper TO say that in calling
this meeting it has not been in any spirit
Of criticism or impationce We recognize
AAt AoNA NAAoA AiuN-A a lIUNlN4On Oh lllt con-
stitution, which experience has proved 70
be a wise enc, the senate is made a part Of
the treaty making power and has duty
TO discharge coordinate with the national
executive. We also recognize that this ma
ton has great interests on this hemisphere
which should not be made the subject Of
arbitration with any European nation. Ii
is believed that these interests have been
carefully guarded in the pending treaty
but II after mature consideration ti-e SON
ato should find it exTedient and possible
to meke the language of the treaty noc
explicit in this respect such action should
be regarded as prudent craftsmanship. l.
however, venture to express the hope that
the final action of that body will not be
such as TO defeat the treaty, as it would
thereby disappoint the hopes of the great
majority Of the people of the United states
and discredit our government in the eyes
of the civilized world -
Hon. Gardiner G. Hubbard, president OF
the American Geographical society was
elected chairman of the meeting. On tax
ing the chair, he said in opening:
We are not here to discuss the prOvi
sions or to criticise its defects. We admit
its imperfections and its incompletanoss,
attest its integrity, its earnest purpose
and noble aim
Mr.. Justice Brewer Of the United States
supreme court followed. He said thar al
though he was earnestly in favor Of the
pending treaty he would not trespas, in
the slightest degree upon the pIerccative
of the senate TO carefully and thoughtfd-
ly consider it in all aspects and e. accept
what was good md to rcjcct what was
bad. He did not believe in saying 70 thcm,
You must ADOPT it,
-L,, L..
preached with the thought of Whether We
can secure a tribunal that win always dc
eide our way The main question is how
10 secure an independent and inn partial
court ard then send to it all of these Nex
atious and peace disturbing questions
Courts sometimes make mistakes but
what are these mistakes as compared with
the waste and carnage of war:
Brewer Favors the Treaty.
"I am in favor Of this treaty, said the
speaker, "becluse it gives us for the first
time in our national life chance to arbi-
tIate our differences The first step is the
most important one. This is our oprortu.
nifty, and who can say when another such
an opportunity shall come to usg''
Other brief addresses wero made by
Thoras Nelson Page, President Whitman
Of Columbian college and ex-senator Hem
derson Of Missouri. A letter from Cardi.
raj Gibbons was read expressing his regret
at not being able to attend the meeting
ard closing as follows:
''Whilc I am heartily in sympathy with
the object OF this meeting and ardcntly
Hope that the promise held out to ms by
this treaty of settling our disputes without
those threats and runors Of war 50 dis
turbing to public peace and business will
be fulfilled. / regret that previous en-
EagomeIt which I cannot fos.rone viii
prevent ne from joining in ersua the dis
Jinguished gentlemen who have iss O. the
call in approving the treaty Of arbitration
Fer this cause joint letter has been pub
lished expressing the sentinerts Of Cardi-
nails Vaughan and Logue and myFelf ]
am sure that net less ardentiy than they
hope thelr efforts in the cause Of rca~c viii
rot be in va n
The following resolution wos ur7nis
mously adopted
'The citizens Of Washington IN rvhllc
moeting assembled desire 10 attest CIR