The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-02-02
WORTHY OF THEIR ORIGIN.


About all that needs to be said Of
the amendments which the senate COM
mlttee- have brought forth to be add
ed to the arbitration treaty is that
they are worthy of the source from
which they spring. The gigantic intel
lects of the upper house have been bent
for days now upon discovering some
imperfections in the treaty that would
give a sign of a reason for the malig-
nant personal opposition of the jingoes.
They were unable to find a single
weak point. Deciding to appeal to ig-
norance and prejudice, they announced
that the treaty could not be ratified
unless the provision for having King
Oscar, of Sweden and Norway, act as
umpire was stricken out, or unless the
Monroe doctrine was explicitly exempt
ed. Both of these criticisms were alb
solutely puerile. AS we have pointed
out, King Oscar was to act as umpire
only in certain limited class of cases.
and when the tribunal, as constituted,
could not agree. 1t has always been
customary in differences to which we
We're party to have some repre-
sentative Of a foreign state, no
matter whether republic or monar-
chy, act as umpire in case Of dis
agreement. The amendment striking
out this provision relating to the king
of Sweden and Norway is. therefore,
merely silly, and will cut no figure
either with the effect of the treaty or
its acceptability to the people The
other amendment is a pretty good
measure of the intelligence and pa
triotism OF the senate. 1t is supposed
to cover the retention of the Monroe
doctrine, and we present the full text
of it as specimen of senatorial intel
lect and English:
No question which affects the foreign or
domestic policy of either of the contracting
parties, or the relations Of either with any
other state or powers, by treaty or otherwise,
snail be subject to arbitration under this
treaty, except by special agreement.
Either this means nothing at all, or
it means that there shall be no arbitra-
ton of any question between Great
Britain and the United States. The
language is so vague, complex and in
definite that one could read into or out
of it anything he pleased. The fault
finders of the senate, who claim that
the wording of the agreement reached
by the administration is not definite
enough, ought to have this committee
amendment framed and hung on the
walls of the senate chamber. mo cues
ton which affects the foreign or do
mestic policy Of either country is to
come within the scope of arbitration.
What questions are there which could
pOssfJTy rise between two countries and
not affect either the domestic or the
foreign policy, not only of one, but of
both the parties to the dispute? 1t is
evident to any one who reads this
amendment carefully that it covers alb
solutely the whole field Of international
relations. 1t reminds one of the old
game Of twenty questions beginning
with animal, mineral or vegetables"
If the members of the senate commit
tee would tell us what questions there
are to be submitted to arbitration
which should not affect either the for
eign or the domestic policy of a ma
ton, or it's relations with any other
power, by treaty or otherwise, we
should be pleased to have the informa-
ton. 1t does not relate to the Monroe
doctrine, any more than it relates to
anything else under the SUM- It is. as
we have said, If the words mean any,
thing at all, an effective, complete and
comprehensive denial Of arbitration at
any time or under any circumstances.
This is about what we might expect
from body which is striving to de-
serve the unqualified and increasing
contempt in which it is held by the
people of this country, without regard
to party.