New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-06
THE ARBITR1TION TREATY.

The final disposition which was yesterday
made of the Anglo-American general Arbitration
Treaty by the United States Senate Will doubt
less be received by the Nation with an apathy
that a few months ago would have been deemed
Incredible Friends and foes Of the measure
alike will display chiefly a philosophic resigna-
ton If not Indifference. That will be in part
because of the changes made in the text of the
document by the Senate Committee on Foreign
Relations These deprived the treaty of those
features which its more extreme and enthusi-
astic advocates deemed vital to its effectiveness.
and also Of those which its opponents deemed
most fraught with potential mischief. That
done, interest in the treaty perceptibly waned.
The instrument was transformed into one which
might be useful and which could scarcely he
harmful: but which certainly could not as some
had vainly hoped make war impossible. nor as
others feared, involve this Nation in foreign en-
tanglements to its own disadvantage.
There is, therefore, little occasion for strong
emotion over the final defeat of the treaty. No
such instrument was needed to demonstrate the
peaceful disposition of the American people and
their sincere attachment to the principle of arbi
tration The record Of the United States on
that score is secure beyond challenge. or all
one whose fixed policy is peace, who seeks no
foreign conquests, who maintains no bloatcd and
mcnacing ornaments. 1t would be not merely
idle 1t would be supera,ively silly, as well as
false to pretend that there is single Nation on
earth that has cause to feel itself in danger from
American aggression. II is for other Nations,
rather than for this one, to give pledges Of peace
And to say that the refusal Of the United States
to bind itself hand and foot. in the fashion con-
tcmplated by the original draft Of the treaty, has
set back the cause Of peace in the world is 10
say that the public order of community would
be ieoparded by the unwingness of the most
peaceabe man In 1t to put himself under per
petual bonds Of on-cOmbaiveness.
1t would moreover. be necessary To turn, not
back TO the elemental passions of humanity,
which are not III a way ever TO he outgrown, but
only to the current examples of those European
Powers which are most anxious TO see America
put under bonds. to see of how little account,
after all. the most formal and solemn intcrna-
tional obligations are, The spectacle of those
Powers playing fast and loose with their Berlin
Treaty of 1878. with the Cyprus Convention.
with the Triple Alliance, and with what not else,
does not give Americans an exalted notion of the
binding force that would reside in any treaty
made by one Of them with the United States.
special arbitration treaty. for the settlement Of a
special case. is likely to be faithfully observed
general and perpetual treaty Is likely to be
observed only long as II suits the interests and
the pleasure Of the Powers. That may he an
Unpleasant fact. but the history Of international
conventions proves II 10 be a fact. There may
be those who will reproach the United States for
failing TO ratfy this treaty. If so. they will do
well TO remember that this country has been the
pioneer In arbitration that ii has never refused
to arbiratc n case susceptible Of such settle
ment nor ever failed To abide by the award If
any other Nation is more free from sin than this
one let II cast the first stone
There will probably be in some quarters an
outburst Of wrath against the Senate for Its
action, just as there has been much railing
against II for not tanning through" the treaty,
unread and unconsidered. However much II
may be regretted that the Senate did not see Its
way clear to Judge the measure otherwise, Its