The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-13
Opnosition TO the rreatx.


The arbitration treaty did not fare as
well as its friends hoped it would at the
hands of the very large and thoroughly
cosmopolitan audience which gathered in
Cooper Union at New York on Thursday
night, in response to a call of the friends
of the treaty. The purpose of those who
called the meeting was to urge the SEN
ate to ratify the treaty. They believed
when they issued the call that they would
have no trouble in accomplishing their
purpose. Some of the most distinguished
citizens Of New York were on the plat
form. Among them were Mayor Strong,
Mr.. Seth Low, president Of Columbia Col
| lege Hon. Charles Fairchnd, Bishop Pot
ter and Samuel Gompers.
The friends of the treaty encountered
no opposition until the resolutions indoors
ing it were read, and then it be-
| came apparent at once that there was OPP
position of the most formidable
character An amendment to the
resolutions was offered, the substance of
which was that the Senate he urged to
reject the treaty The amendment was
supported by fiery speech, which elicit
ed hearty and prolonged applause.
A vote was taken on the resolutions, but
it is a question whether they received
the support of a majority Of the audience.
No effort was made to find out whether
they did or not They were declared to
be carried by the chairman, and the lights
were hastily put out.
There is no doubt a great deal of hostil-
ity to Great Britain in all parts of the
| country. 1t is due largely to her selfish for
eign policy and her disposition to grab the
territory of weaker nations. This hostil-
lily IS the cause of the opposition to the
treaty. To the treaty itself there can be
no reasonable objection. 1t was sought
by us. and was agreed to by the British
government only after considerable urg-
ing. The purpose of it is to avoid war
between the two great English speaking
peoples, and indirectly, to lead to similar
treaties between the various nations. If
war can be avoided honorably why not
avoid it? Why resort to war when as
satisfactory results can be reached by
means of arbitration? Why burden the
people with the maintenance of great
| naVleS ana great armies IT disputes can
be settled by peaceful means? These are
some of the reasons given in favor of the
treaty
VIII the hostility to Great Britain be
| sufficient to prevent the ratification of
| the treaty? We hardly think it will. Stil,
no one can predict with any degree of
certainty to what extent the Senate will
be influenced by It.
There is no good reason, however. why
the United States should reject a treaty
which is for their benefit as much as for
that of Great Britain, simply because the
latter country has pursued a selfish pol
| icy in respect to the Armenians, the Gre
tans, the Beers and the Irish. If the
| treaty is a good thing for us it should be
ratified even if its ratification would bene-
| fit Great Britain to the extent of making
her feel freer to deal with enemies which
may rise up against her in Europe. It is
not wisdom on our part to reject a treaty
which would be helpful to US simply be-
cause Great Britain sees fit to pursue
policy in dealing with other nations which
some of our people do not approve.