New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-01
THE ARBITRATION TREATY.
SIDE LIGHT ON THE SUBJECT.
THE ENGLISH GOVERNMENT MORE RESPONSIVE
TO THE PEOPLE THAN THE AMERI-


THE ENGLISH GOVERNMENT MORE RESPONSIVE
TO THE PEOPLE THAN THE AMERI-
CAN SENATE
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: There are phases OF the subject now
most prominent In the minds OF the American
nublic which worthy OF more consideration
than they have yet received. Senator Joseph r.
Hswley year ago. a meeting OF the alumni of
hamilton College said: There are two powers In
this world that sleep; the first is the Pope
in Rome and the second Is the British Govern
ment" He added: Mind, say. the Government
not the English people" The latter part of Sena-
tor Haweys statement has been repeated many
times during the discussion on arbitration. 1t
,!rely overlooks fundamental fact: namely. that
now the British Government is even more
sponsve to the British people than is the Amer!-
can Government TO the American people During
the last summer l heard eminent member of
Parliament make this statement: English poll
tics has witnessed during the last few months
of the mos, astounding events in its hstory-t has
seen a Cecil before daring 10 Get waiting TO
sui. the English people" The occurrence TO which
this gentleman referred was the fact that Lord
Salisbury before he took action the Venezuela
matter. waited for the British people TO express
.her wishes In other words to-day, perhaps
fully than anywhere else in the world. in
England the Government represents the people
and does not dare 10 go adverse to their wishes.
Whatever may have been In the past. this Is
true az The present, any VINO has init
mate personal knowledge OF English social and
political lfe well understands. II is often said
that the English people favorable the United
States but the English Government Is not That
on its face is an sbsurdity. The English Govern
hear Of no other attitude. This fact goes a long
way toward answering the suggestion that behind
the treaty England has some Interior design. Such
statements are the result OF ignorance The Eng
pToress of the Amerca ahI RnS Pn1e IN the
hesitate 10 say that they believe that our future
promises more than theirs, and they are almost as
Whatever may be thought of the relations OF the
all acquainted with the facts as they are today
knows well that the spirit Of fr!endliness and OF
ycrsal in Great britain = nv s"''e U''i-
Another fact in this discussion Is also overlooked
our senators, with great deal of flourish. are in
clined 10 decry those who, they intimate have
been influenced by Europe. They forget that they
themselves are the very ones who are most slavish
in their devotion 10 European ideals. Nothing In
our history has done so much 10 revolutionize
Europe as the fact that this great Republic has
been able 10 grow. prosper. ard maintain it's
place before the world with hardly more than a
nominal navy and army Of scarcely q. 01 while
those In authority abroad have been adding their
nayIes and burdenns the people with taxation 10
european countries have been asking and are ask
ing III America can prosper without a large army
and navy. why cannot we?' In other words the
chief influence which this Republic has exerted on
me IRE OF me world has been in behalf Of univer
with admiration, and they slowly but suraly
making their influence felt in the halls OF legls-
Now, al the very time when there is the oppur-
tunity OF putting distinct emphasis upor the
principle for which the United States has stood
ever, more positively than IL has ever stood for
the Monroe Doctrine, our Sc lators are questioning
the wisdom OF the ratification Of th,s treaty The
future as some imagine it TO be and the Near I
qua Canal may also be an important question. but
neither one nor both combined are as essential .
20 the true mission of the American Republic
ne TACT that a nation can exist and grow and
with taxation for the support OF armies or for the
building of navies whose only mission seems 10 be
20 fill the pockets of the shp-buildng industry
our Senators show woful lack OF appreciation
forget that glory IN the past has been IN the
fact that We have had no great army and great
navy and believed in policy OF peace.
One other point: I should like TO call
ton &c the contrast between the proudest OF all
the rulers OF Great Britain refusing 10 take
action until he had consulted the people, and /
Senator's who resent the expression Of the will OF
he people The spectacle is not very edfyng TO
those who believe that the government should be
by the people aud for the people" We may well ,
ask whether we are not coming under rule which !
Senator'S imagine that they rulers. instead /
az our servants? The people in this country are
ne rulers In their hands Is the ultimate authority
That they are almost unit in their desire that the
perfect but because II is one step toward de- I
sired end hardly be questioned. Lord Sails T.
bury did not dare to go against the will of the 1
English people, and. therefore. whatever his
sonal wishes behalf of his Government, he has
signed the treaty. The American people are equally 1
anxious that the treaty should be ratified. and fl ]
remains TO be seen whether our Senators will pre-
sumo 10 violate their wishes In that shall I
have 10 acknowledge that Great Britain IS very /
near democracy. while approaching /
perously near 10 an oligarchy.
AMORY II. BRADFORD. /
New-York January %, 1897.