The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-02-17
POSTPONED, but Not Killed.

Some disappointment Is to be expect
ed because the senate has deferred uhli
its next session the ratification OF the
amended Olney- -Pauncefote treaty. The
majority of Intelligent Americans APP
preciating in its fullness the vast Sig
niflcance of the principle of arbltratloh'
and not in possession of all the facts
which have impelled the senator's 10
caution in accepting at its face value
an instrument bearing the official IN
dorsement of Great Britain, have mar
yeled that there should be obstruction
to the treatys swift transit through
the senate.
BY many this obstruction has, we sus-
pect. been misinterpreted. 1t is better
known to senators than to laymen What
precision of language and what thor
ough analysis of phraseology are neces-
sary in order to make treaties do what
it is intended that they shall do. Take,
for example, the Clayton BulWer treaty,
negotiated with England in 1850
Scarcely was the ink on it dry before
England put a construction on it such
as was never contemplated by the
treatys American advocates, and seri-
Gus friction between the two nations
was aVerted only because the American
mind and heart were then too busy
with the slavery question and collateral
home issues to give much heed to for
eign affairs. The lesson of that single
specimen Of Anglican craftlness has
been many times repeated in our diplo-
+io inf har m
government, and while it may not have
left much of an impression upon the
public mind, the details thereof are
firmly fixed in the memory of the older
senators.
There is, too, some measures of truth
in the contention that since it has taxi
en- the executive department over three
years to draft the arbitration treaty,
the senate ought to have more than a
few days at the fag end Of a presidcn-
tial quadrennium in which to review
and discuss the executive department s
work That personal dislike by certain
senators of the outgoing executive Of
flcials has impaired to this general ar
gument a biting special emphasis is
very probable; but the treaty has still
five months to run before it can eX-
pire in default of ratification, and with
in two months the senate will again be
free to accord to 1t practically uninter-
rupted attention. The fact that new
administration will by that time have
come into power, not only favorable to
the treaty but on terms of cordiality
with the ratifying power, will material
ly tranquillze the opposition.
One final thought needs to be consid
cred by those inclined to pass hasty
Censure on the senate. No difference
is now pending calculated to cause a
war with England; in face of very seri-
Gus past prOvOcaGOn, we have man
aged since 1872 to keep the peace with
our kinsmen oversee; and a delay of
final action on the treaty lasting eight
or ten weeks ought not, therefore, to eX-
cite alarm. Nor is it necessary for the
United States to be in any respects un-
fair to or careless of it's own interests in
order to prove it's devotion to the prin-
ciple of arbitration. With record of
more than three dozen successful refer
ences to arbitration, at our suggestion
of disputes in which we We're one of the
parties in interest, no European nation
dare accuse US of lukeWarmnesS to the
principle of civilized adjustments.
Don't worry about that treaty. 1t is
anything but defunct.