The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-13
WASHINGTON
CORRESPONDENCE.



WASHINGTON, Der. I2.-Trsatiss az
| tbs time. when peace with Spain Is assured,
are interesting TO persons who under oryl-
nary circumstances would not give tasm
uaameat's thought. During her life OF Il
years, the United States has coEcIudea
about 80 treaties and conventions IL IS
bard 10 remember mora than dozen OF
them-sues1 little bearing have they on the
ordinary affairs OF life.
TIE two treaties OF peace with England.
one Of boundary and limits with the same
power. treaties Of cesion and commerce
with France and Spain. one Of peace and
cesSscn with Mexico. the one OF anity and
commerce wherewith We woke Japan from
her long sleep: the agreement with England
TO abolish the save trade, 10 arbitrate the
Alabama claims with the same power. and
the accession to the convention OF Geneva
recognizing the Red Cross are the most
important Of the large number negotiated
One OF the treaties not mentioned is that
of 1850 wherein England and the United
States bind themselves TO maintain no war
vessels or faFtifications within fifty miles OF
the mouth Of the proposed Nicaragua canal
The idea IN concluding that convention was
10 prevent the waters around the entrance
TO the canal from becoming the tneater OF
acton 10 case OF war; also 10 give each
beaiigerent equal rights IN the use or this
means Of communication, and further to
make IL q highway OF commerce rather than
a military road.
In view of the probability that congress
viii provide for the construction OF this
great work during the coming session. this
agreement is quite likely TO become matter
OF popular discussion, and that very soon,
too. II 1t is Sill in force, as English writer's
assert. Americans VIII IN al probability,
which dictated is negotiation
However much interest may be mani
Tested In the Bulxer treaty q few months
hence, there is immediate Instruction and
interest in the treaty Of peace and cessicn
We made with Mexico and the treaty of
cession jefferson ana Napoleon made In
lNs-,he one that is commonly called the
louisiana purchase" Therein is instrue-
ton particularly for those who ask. with
there for paying Spain anything for the
Philippines il We have already conquered
tnem?' The Mexican treaty says the Uni
ted states. in consideration Of the extern
sion acquired by the boundaries will pay
the Mexican government SIS, 600, and as
sumo the settlement Of claims OF American
citizens against the Mexican government to
an amount not exceeing Ss5vo,000 Out of
generous feeling for an utterly defeated
Zoe, this country offered to pay the differ
ence between the cost of the war 70 her
and the value of the land she purposed TAX
lng. In estimating the value of the ceded
territory, no allowance for the rich gold.
gold was made on the Very day, July 4, 1s4S,
,ae treaty was proclaimed, That was
soy TReTe arc rer English ooa had Wee
have very strong belief that there is very
good coal in the Philippines A company
probability become Worm ~ iiion ma as "a ao on,
as American rule Is established. If they
deye.ap as we'll as a British consul, in q
report made years ago, said they would
Spain VIII have better base for hard
luck story" than she has at present.
or course. I. is well enough understood
that the Southern Democrats then in con-
trol or the government had another motive
II making war on Mexico than that of set
Ia ~ q r..
when Texas was admitted 10 the Union
The slave-hoiding states recognized the
TACT TACT that they would, in the course of
few years, lose control OF the government
II they did not provide the territory from
wnich slave states might be carved The
iar-sighted men Of that section saw the OPP
Portunlty. wnen Mexico was mul.sh In re-
Iusins TO recognize our claims on the ter
ritory IN dispute. TO add the material to the
slave states would have been carved had
not the abolition sentiment grown faster
IMAM me population IN the new territory.
Up TO this time only Mugwumps ane anti
tNpansionists have alleged that this gov
erninent had any but the purest motives in
aardly be q suspicion that the payment Of
fsred for the Philippines is based on any
ening otner than q desire to be just and
generous to broken and vanqulshed en-
envy. The treaty with Mexico furnishes an
un1aisputed and clear precedent.
ont ~, atrc ns@s!apers have also cried
ton. said to dave been made 10 give scans
f tbn a SPECIAL priylleges In the ports OF
years. Thomas Jefferson, of glorious m m,
Dry 10 all who recognize the fact that in
crease Of territory follows as one OF the con-
sequences OF national growth made a pre-
eodenf. He gave both Spain and France
special rights IN New Orleans and all other
ports IN the colony or province ceded to us
and Spanish ships coning direct from Spa n
or france, or Their colonies. loaded with
Goods made in those countries. to enter
those ports on the same terms that ynTld
be enjoyed by American ships sailing from
either OF those countries This arrange
g slar i III Tor twelve years. Spain was
Tor quit claim from her 10 her pretensi9n
20 ownership OF the province. She agreed
Win France 10 leave US In undisturbed rcs
session IL we would allow her commerce
that great privilege
The language OF the agreement il so Main
that there is no possibility of rnistakina us
import Even the most unlearned can un-
aefstand ~ 1t Is fact worth noting that
simpler than that employed in transferring
SO worth OF real estate. For instance. take
me t document whereby. the ear OF ali the
kussias transferred Alaska 10 the Untts1 |
states IL Is q model for both hrev!tv and
simplicity. In length IL does not exceed |
saoosahd words-a half or two-thir1s OF q
cosumn or newspaper print. The Mexican
peace treaty is much longer, and meets tire
ordinary conception OF what such a thing
"a St4NsffR kiSFfuelt between two natfnrs
ought 20 be. 1t begins I'm the nam ~ |
AinAshty God or, as ii Is in the more |
sonorous Spanish. En- Ell nomore de I5ios |
oo3eroso." ~
The Louisiana purchase treaty contains |
Il clause in the aoknowied gment that VAS |
eAacted by foolish French pridt. that makes |
student smile This clause makes IN. |
American commissioner say that the aocu- |
meni was done in French and English al |
.nough X was first agreed 10 in French |
Ihat was the concession the ArnerIran
mad 20 the French notion that theirs ia re |
only LANGUAGE III 10 be used in d.plonarv |
or any other governmental business Ina. |
notion grew aut az the French confenfiou
that France Is the leading nation-a nofte,, /
thai furnished CARLYLE tie inspiration f1r |
n4Ils rofis sarcastic nirgs in his Biography /
* Frederick the Great
bI' he most interesting % az the solemn !
cenI2eis - lie found in the archives OF /
the state department Is the one c0rcittd@l |
RIfa a King Of the FIJI islands There fs |
VT ten copy. probably, somewhere INIT the |
tS5ag % binding force on the conse.ier1~4, ~ |
the trca ;y-;18kirg barbarian Is a lY3s- asJ |
ris tooth. r Is : highly pollsheE arsir9s /
Through era end OF X hole VS. fs~..i /
All n.atR