Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-07-30

"
to end it. War does not even end when
one party is thoroughly defeated. I'M
less the vanquished acknowledges the
fact, and sues for peace. Spain has
now sued for peace, or at least has
asked for our terms Of peace. Grant
ing that Spain is sincere and that there
is no treachery or diplomatic trick in
the matter, it does not mean that the
end of the war will be immediate. At
months, if we can judge the present by
the past, before the war will really end
and the peace treaty signed.
AS a rule, the settlement of the terms
of peace treaties is a rather deliberate
process. In former wars in which the
United States was engaged the troops
We're kept in the field for a considerable
period after the war was practically at
an end. 1t requires some time to arrest
the momentum of war, though the
speedy disarmament of armies, after
the necessity for their existence is over,
is highly desirable for many reasons.
Formerly the lack of quick communi-
cation prolonged wars after peace had
been formally agreed upon.
Two treaties of peace were signed
after the Revolutionary War. Tho
preliminary articles We're signed at
Paris. November 80, 1882. They vera
ratified by Congress April Is, 1893. Thu
final or definitive treaty was not signed
until September 3, 1898. Washington
issued his farewell address to the army
November >, 1873, and the army was
formally disbanded on the following
day. Nearly a year passed between
the signing of the preliminary peace
treaty and the dissolution of the
| American army.
The frequently recalled battle of New
the peace agreement between the
United States and Great Britain had
been signed at Client. The treaty was
signed December "A, 1914. 1t did not
reach New York until February H.
1915. In the meantime the unnecessary
battle of New Orleans had been fought,
as we'll as the naval battle between the
United States frigate President an
four British frGatcs. Such was the
e ~,
those days that desultory hostiities
We're kept up for several days even
after the arrival Of the treaty in New
York. Modern telegraphic communica
ton viii prevent such Incidents n
future wars.
| In the Mexican War the granting Of
an armisticc from August II to Sep
! TENDER l. 1877. by General Scott to the
McXicans, after the battle of Cheru-
| formal peace treaty was not signed
until February ,. 1913, and ratified May
49, 1913. in this instance there does
NOT appear to have been a preliminary
treaty, the purpose Of which is to set
forth the general terms of peace and to
note items to he settled in the final
treaty. In the Civil War there was no
peace treaty, FOR the reason that there
was no recognizable power with which
the United States could deal after the
collapse of the Confedcracy.
Peace treaties become binding upon
the powers signing them from the date
of signing, but ii is laid down by au-
thorities ON international law that
| when the war has been conducted on
the sea or in distant regions the treaty
should contain a stipulation that cap
lures made between the date of signing
and actual ratification of the treaty
shall be restored 1t is principle Of
international law that when a power
transfers in a treaty of peace some nj
It's territory to the victor the fealty "
allegiance of the inhabitants Of the
transferred territory to the flag of the
conqueror is not guaranteed. Under
the law Of nations there is nothing to
prevent an exodus of all the people of
transferred territory if they choose to
go. The modern doctrine is that ale
glance is founded wholly on consent.
1t is probable that the final treaty of
peace between the United States and
Spain Will he an elaborate instrument.
owing TO the many Spanish islands and
dependencies whose future status must
he fixed in the document. The DISPOSE
ton Of these possessions must be set
lied by express stipulations.
EX-Presidcnt T.. benjamin Andrews,
now of Chicago, seems to have drop
ped free silver for the time being. and
now comes out as a prophet. He pre-
diets a general war in Europe with
the United States right in the midst
of it. He declares that this country
must prepare to take n hand in the
nr0bIcmc ~ m