Omaha daily bee., 1898-08-07

How Former Wars Were Brought to
an Amicable Conclusion.

Philadelphia Ledger.
AS n 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 were 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 disbandment Of
armies, after the necessity for their exist
ence is over, is highly desirable for many
reasons. Formerly the lack of quick com
munication prolonged wars after peace had
been formally agreed upon.
Two treaties Of peace were signed after
the revolutionary war. The preliminary ar
ticles were signed at Paris, November 30,
1882. They were ratified by congress April
Is, 1888. The final or defnitive treaty was
not signed until September 3, 1888. Wash
ington issued his farewell address to the
army November 2, 1888, and the army was
formally disbanded on the following daE
Nearly a year passed between the signing
of the preliminary peace treaty and the dis
solution of the American army.
The frequently recalled battle of New Or
leans was fought two weeks after the peace
agreement between the United States and
Great Britain had been signed at Client.
The treaty was signed December "a, 1914.
It did not reach New York until February
II, 1916. In the meantime the unnecessary
battle of New Orleans had been fought, as
well as the naval battle between the United
States frigate President and four British
frieates. Such was the lowness of inter-
nal communication In those days that desul-
tory hostilities were kept up for several
days even after the arrival OF the treaty In
New York. Modern telegraphic
A .,lll 'pra,rapf cnch incidents IN future
wars.
In the Mexican war the granting OF an
armistice from August 81 to September 7,
| 1S47. by General Scott to the MeXicans after
the battle Of Cherubusco was prophetic OF
peace. but the formal peace treaty was not
| signed until February 2, 1S4S, and ratified
| May 10, 1S4S. In this instance there does not
| appear to have been a preliminary treaty
| the purpose of which Is to set forth the gen.
| eral terms OF peace and to note items to be
settled in the final treaty. In the civil war
there was no peace treaty, for the reason
| hat there was no recognizable power with
which the United States could deal after
the collapse OF the confederacy.
Peace treaties become binding upon the
powers signing them from the date OF sign
ing, but 1t is laid down by authorities on
international law that when the war has
been 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 re-
stored. 1t is a principle of international law
that when a power transfers in a treaty OF
peace some Of its territory to the victor
the fealty or allegiance of the inhabitants
OF the transferred territory to the flag Of the
conqueror is not guaranteed. Under the law
NJ nations there is nothing to prevent an
exodus of all the people Of transferred terri
tory II they choose to go. The modern doc
trine is that allegiance is founded wholly on
consent.
tits probable that the final treaty of peace
between the United States and Spain will
be an elaborate instrument, owing to the
many Spanish islands and dependencies
whose future status must be fixed in the
document. The disposition of these posses
sions must be settled by express stIpuls-
lions