The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-22

HntsrestinG Communlcaiisn from the Pre-
moter or an ArbitratIpn treaty.

Hoter OF an Arbitration Treaty.
To THE EpTToR OF THE SUN-Sir. Your re-
cent article crlticisinE something I was sup
posed to have said, but did not, and donouncinR
the arbitration treaty for something yon fear
1t contains, but which IL docs not, must DO my
apology for troubling you with the following,
which, In common fairness, 1 hope you will do
me tho favor of publishing in your widely road
journal. II the treaty had boon prompted by tho
British Government I could more easily under
stand your suspicious in regard to It. That
honor, however. Is not due TO our Government,
but to yours; you were the %inviters, wo the in
vitod. That fact was proved by President
Mckinley, whom he stated that tho proposal
for n treaty Of arbitration was initiated by the
United States. Tho published dispatches upon
the subject also proved that Lord Salisbury was
for some time antagonistic to the proposals of
Mr.. 0lncy. preforring u treaty of his own draft
ing; that Mr.. Olncy. by tho force OF his reason
ing. ultimately induced the British Premier and
his Cabinet to abandon their opposition. and
that the treaty finally agreed upon contained
the provisions for which Mr.. 0lney had con.
tended. Tho accuracy Of these assertions can
be easily attestod by reference to the published
correspondence between the two Governments
before the treaty was signed.
II every citizen OF the United States would
carefully read Lord Salisbury's draft treaty and
NN e.Ne'Shty "" " Nhs O''NJs Wy q W
heed would be given to the cry that the diplo-
matists of tho New World arc no match for the
diplomatists of the Old.
You refer to "EnRland's impending misfor.
tune" but I haven't the remotest idea what you
mean, or of the terrible fate which awaits us.
1t may be. however, that our industrial and
commercial greatness has in somo quarters ex-
cited SO much envy that the downfall OF Eng
land would be hailed with delight. II / rcmem.
her riphf predfctinpa of TINT nafura bayn nfte,
been mAde. yet The old country still lives and
prospors.
You also imply that our object in concluding
q treaty OF arbitration with the United States
was q nero pretext. and that our real purpose
was an alliance between tho two countries, yet
you failed to adduce q little OF evidence in sup
port Of such a grave innuendo. 1t would DO in
teresting to learn how you arrived at such a
conclusion. rs there is not a line in the treaty
which can be construed into anything In the ma
ture or character of an alliance, either for often
sive or defensive purposes.
What, then, becomes Of your assertion that I
had, by the language 1 was accused Of employ
ing. stripped the arbitration treaty stark
naked" Stripped, indeed! Why. there was
nothing to conceal. Tho whole treaty had been
ssh irsR. to tho world from tho moment of Its
President Cleveland. Mr.. olney. President Nc
mending 1t to your Senate as an instrument
Of srSi ffsifmaa Yet s sesii imEpl g' sRas !. Was m nos q
p poSt m measure .aa, pure , Snd simple sin ph: but but t that it
e epnment to e0'sn slieVe Il sR %oald ia result ,nH sf IN an G sIII:
aI Ns1 Sot sTtSnr tho h. contracting 3rssf9 Ina p pa dis not oon..,,
ton, and II It did not. the British government
selves into such ! . belief. and the Un nit stStes
cannot have much to fear from men with such
nAfaNfivai Ind 0tn
a good thing without some sinister object in
ticians and Journalists shower upon us. why did
Why did Mr. Blaine, who had q more intimate
and personal acquaintance with US than our
RR 1Gss4ls 1re cUnfsrsnd ie!it to 3 Hs e 4dS i, tho q t nesn;
OF arbitration. and why did Congress-; by tho
to invite Great Britain or any other civilized
power To- arbitrate their differences with the
Our character was known before those invita-
the, world believe that il was ali a farce. and
that ySur statesmen were never serious upon
What would be thought of a man who invited
should s~tipulate that any differences which
might arise between them should be adjusted |
2 series Of arguments obtained the consent Of
biis aeanihin INT m turned round and Denounced
had some base object in viewi
Tho records OF the British Parliament for the
last twelve years prove that I am not q follower |
OF Lord salisbury's political creed. a creed in
to |h be fo until y Hisy FT eGssblyy. - arS bnMsIon ", was mot not
ons a statesman to play battledoor and shuttle
cock with arbitration, and having. although
Somewhat tsrdily. yielded to tho publicly OK
dict Of the House Of Commons, no accepted the |
invitation Of your Government, and assented to |
the conclusion of a treaty. |
On one point have no doubt you are right.
w, mat many OF your countrymen do enter
q disinterestedness." 1t would be strange If they |
did not. after the malignant and persistent at |
tS a upon Great Britain. the DISTORTION Of facts,
carefully distilled and insldiously administered
by politicians and journalists has done it's work.
Yet how is 1t that these suspicious concerning |
ihd :, duplicity do not appear to have been
final vote upon tho treaty. fouted Mr.. Olney's
genuine schome of arbitration, and recast the
treaty upon the puerile basis favored by Lord |
salisbIryi It was very funny to SEQ your SEN
0lnoy and hugging the wicked British Demon
WASHINGTON. Jan. 10.