The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-09-06
LEOPOLD The WRONG MAN.
THIS NATION SHOULD OBJECT
TO THE BELGIAN KING.
The Commercial Relations Between
Belgium and Japan-A Span
ish Memorandum That Should
Put the United States on Its
Guord


ish Memorandum That Should
Put the United States on Its
Guard.
Inasmuch as Japan is reported TO
have suggested the nomination OF KING
Leopold to act as arbitrator IN her
controversy with the United States on
the subject Of Hawaii, it may be time
~ to point out the reasons Why TINS
country should under no circumstances
consent to the selection of the Belgian
ruler for the purpose, and at the same
time to call attention to the neon
gruity of submitting disputes IN winch
republics are concerned TO the 1udS-
nent of monarchs. 1t is merely ne
scessary to glance over the list OIL the
eighty odd international difficulties
leave out those of minor Importance
which have been settled by arbitration
since 1916, in order to perceive how
dar more frequently the names Of en-
perors and of kings are to be found
figuring as judges in the case than
those of persOnageS of less exalted
rank, socially speaking. The late Car,
sdullest and most prejudiced of his line,
the drunken and dissolute King of Hol-
land. the late King Victor Emmanuel.
whose financial Irregularities are at the
bottom of the present administrative
corruption and sadly impaired credit Of
Italy; Emperor Napoleon III, most IN
scrupulous of monarchs, and as in
veterate a conspirator after his aces
sion to the throne as in the days when
he was still a mere political refugee;
-,
though a chivaIrous gentleman and an
excellent soldier, understood nothing
about international law; Dom Pedro Of
Brazil and King Oscar of Sweden, have
time and again been called upon to act
'as umpires in international complica
dions.
Inasmuch as the United States is
party to some 80 per cent. of the cases
above mentioned as submitted to arbi
tration, and as, moreover, this coun-
try and the South American republics
are jointly responsible for at least
5wO-thirds of the entire number, cyni-
cal persons might find therein ground
for arguing that the people on this side
of the Atlantic entertain a far greater
regard for the justice of the so-called
-'anointed of the Lord" than is conso-
nant with the doctrines of democracy
that constitute the foundation of the
great American commonwealth.
THE LESSON OF EXPERIENCE.
Incidentally it may be pointed out
that monarchial governments manifest
q decided preference for selecting non
royal personages. and oftentimes re-
publican statesmen and dignitaries, as
arbitrator. Thus England has III
of the chief magistrates of France and
of Switzerland in such matters, while
the President of the United States has
likewise been called upon by crowned
rulers to determine the right and the
wrong of disputes in which they had
become involved. And in this they
show their good sense. For writing,
not as an American. but as foreigner,
it is impossible for me to deny that
there is far greater chance Of a just
verdict being rendered by non-royal
personages than by kings or emperors.
These latter, when a case is referred to
them, either turn it over to some Of
their legal advisers and take no fur
Their trouble about the matter, eX
cept to affix their signature to the le-
gal opinion drawn up for their APPROX
NJ by the lawyers or politicians whom
they have employed for the purpose,
or else, if they take the matter in hand
themselves, under the impression that
their crown has invested them with
an abstruse knowledge of the intrica-
cies of international law without ever
having studied the latter, they are apt
to make the most ridiculous mistakes.
Thus King William of Holland, on
being asked by the United States
many years ago to determine the
northwest boundary line. on the sub
ject of which there was a difference of
opinion with Great Britain, declined to
accept either the American or the En-
glish views, and rendered a decision
in favor of a prosperous frontier line
of his own devising. which was not
only unacceptable to both countries
concerned, but absolutely impossible
geographically as well as politically
Indeed, it is difficult to say which is
IS the most satisfactory of the two, the
monarch who takes his umpireship All
serieux, and insists on regarding him
self as a very Daniel come to Judgment
or else the king or emperor who turns
over the papers connected with the
matter to some obscure and irrespon-
sible underling of whose identity and
pute are entirely ignorant.
This question is all the more worthy
of consideration as the United States
bids fair to be become involved ere long
an a controversy with Spain of the
same character as the Alabama diff
Guilty, and which, like the latter, Will
have to be submitted to arbitration
Through private advices received from
Madrid, learn that Calderon Carlisle
1he legal adviser of the Spanish Lega-
dion at Washington, While spending the
holidays with his cousin at Zaranz, was
summoned to San Sebastian by the now
murdered Premier Canovas. for the
purpose of submitting to the latter, and
discussing with him, a very elaborate
memorandum drawn up by Mr. Car
Isle in accordance with the instruc-
1ions of Minister Dupy de LONE, and
which is destined to constitute the ba-
sis of just the same sort of demand by
Spain upon the United States as that