Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-23


ton was entertained in Boston and ther,
was favorable response to their effort
throughout this country.
GRAY QUESTIONS HoAR.
Mr.. Gray democrat OF Delaware a mem
Der OF the foreign relations committee, came
into the discussion at this point what
arc We going to do about it?' he asked MIR.
HOar
81 do not know that the public interest in
| this subject Is misdirectcd or that we can
abate II. An Indifference on the part OF
the public might be far more serious than
zeal, although an Incorporate zeal may not
be the wisest course But we as senators
| cannot restrain the zeal even IL 1t be intem-
perate zeal Of the public so what are we
! going to do about it?"
81 answer the senator" responded Mr..
TIoar that we should FIRST point to the
many well meaning men who address the
senate asking precipltGtc action, that 1t Is
| unwise to urge the senate TO an unusual
course, and this would be so apparent to
them that they would desi5t."
Mr.. Cullom, republican OF Illinois another
| member OF the committee on foreign affairs,
followed Mr. Gray. 81 only want to say
one word be began. "and that Is in accord
with the statement by the chairman Of the
committee on foreign relations. The treaty
has been before it only a short while,
| think now there have been three meetings
OF the committee since 1t came In and the
| treaty was read at the first meeting of the
committee and laid over until the second
meeting. Some members OF the committee
were not present at the second meeting and
! 1t went over to another meeting. There
has certainly been no disposition whatever
on the part of the committee on foreign
relations to delay the treaty for moment
| after the members OF the committee were
| satisfied 1t was the proper thing to do to
ratify It or report favorably. But | wanted
| to say especially that in this country IL does
lp n unapimOlIS OniniOn that
the treaty should be ratified as 1t Is at pres
ent. In letters from prominent gentlemen
from my state this morning, part of them
were in favor OF immediate action favorable
upon the treaty. Others were opposed to
the treaty.
$50 1t does not seem to me that it Is an
unreasonable thing for the committee on
foreign relations to take such time as they
deem necessary for the consideration of the
treaty before ii comes into the senate. So
far as / am concerned believe in the gem
eral proposition, but am unwilling to vote
for treaty that is so extensive in its scope
as that Is until | feel certain myself that
am doing a thing that is In the interest
OF the American people as well as the world.
All | desire is to be certain before we act
favorably upon 1t that it is not tying us
up in such a way that we may find 1t here
after to he something we did not expect we
were doing when we did it. When l am
satisfied on that point | am ready to vote
for 1t, but not before that"
LODGE is GRATIF1ED.
Mr.. Lodge also OF the foreign relations
committee, expressed qualification that his
colleague, Mr. Hoar had given expression to
his thoughts upon the subject of the arbitra-
tion treaty, as there was evidently much
misapprchension to the effect that the COM
mittee had been guilty of unnecessary delay
in considering the treaty. This was dis
tnctly untrue. On the contrary the COM
mittee had exercised the utmost possible
expedition In considering the treaty when
its vast Importance was taken into considera-
tion. 1t would be OF no service to the cause
of arbitration to make a treaty that would
develop causes Of disagreement.
Mr.. Hawley. republican OF Connecticut,
said he had been little surprised to hear
of the prevalence of an opinion that the
United States or the senate at least is not
friendly to arbitration and to peace.
Mr. Sewall wanted the committee to take
all the time necessary to consider the deli
cate questions involved in the treaty as he
for one did not feel disposed to vote upon it
until he secured all the light that IL was
possible to obtain.
Mr.. Stewart, populist of Nevada, brought
the debate to a crisis by his speech. A num-
ber OF senators had been moving anXiously
In their seats since the debate opened. They
evidently felt that the matter belonged only
to the seclusion Of executive session. Other
senators refrained from entering upon any
details as to the merits of the treaty. Mr..
Stewart began by saying there was no oc-
caslon for apology to the public for any ap-
parent delay. matter of such vast impor-
tance as a general arbitration treaty should
be given all the time necessary to consider
its every detail. This was especially true,
to the senator's mind in dealing with any
question in which Great Britain was in
volved We are, he said, not on equal terms
with England in entering upon an interna-
tional agreement OF the character of the one
under consideration, or for that matter on
any subject.
He said England would in this instance
have a vast advantage over the United states
in the selection Of an umpire provided in
the treaty for the reason that Europe, being
a family of states, and their sovereignS
united by blood, it was impossible to hnd
one whose associations and predictions
would not be prejudical to the interests OF
the United States in arbitration over which
he might be called to preside. For this
reason he did not believe America. isolated
as she Is among the nations, should enter
upon an agreement for the arbitration OF
disputes. He did not believe court could
be formed in a way that would do justice to
this country.
THINKS 1T CHIMERICAL.
The senator declared it to be chimerical
to talk OF a treaty for the settlement OF all
differences arising between two countries re-
lated to each other as are Great Britain and
the United States.
I'VE have them" he said, "on all sides,
north and south"
As long as England continued to extend
her fortihcatons from Halifax south on the
Atlantic coast and on the Pacific coast, 1t
did not behoove this nation to enter any
entanglng relations that would prevept
prompt action on the part of this country
in case such action should prove wise or ex
pedient. Under the terms OF the treaty 1t
would take a year two to get any ques-
tion of territorial Significance before the
proposed tribunal. In the meantime Great
Britain. in her usual style. would take pos
session of the disputed territory. while the
United States stood aoof to wait upon the
international court. Questions of this char
acter were liable to arise on our Alaskan
boundary and also the isthmus of Panama;
questions which" he said, "are OF sufficient
magnitude to demand from us the utmost
care in our consideration OF this document"
1t was at this point that Senator Morgan,
who had been in conference with other mem
bers OF the committee on foreign relations,
broke in upon the Nevada senator TO remind
him that he was touching upon the executive
functions OF the senate. Mr.. Stewart there
fore desisted. He did not suspend without
a closing wish to the effect that he hoped
plenty OF time would be taken to prevent
this countrys losing everything.
The military academy bill was then taken
up. This caused some discussion, which
.