The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-26
IT BEGINS A NEW EPOCH.
Stead Says the Peace Congress Is
a Complete Success.
GREATER THAN EXPECTED
Magnitude OF the Gain Is Imperfectly
Understood-Vast Progress in the
Advancement OF Civlli-
cation.
Copyrighted 1899 by Associated Press.

Copyrighted 1899 by Associated Press.
The Hague, July 25.-"I have seen the
American delegates and they talked
freely about the conference, but re-
fused to make a statement about the
results before the conference rises. The
following, however, may be accepted
as fairly accurate summary of the
views they entertain. The conference
achieved a great success, much greater
than the delegates anticipated and the
result was achieved largely by the
amour propre of capable men from all
parts of the world. determined to ac-
complish something worth their assem-
bling together.
THE result surprised all of them
and the magnitude of the gain is i'm
perfectly understood even by the con-
ference.
THE establishment of a permanent
court of arbitration on the American
principle of revision plus the French
declaration of the duty of neutrals to
recommend disputing powers to resort
to the court Of arbitration rather than
to war, presents vast progress in the
advancement of human society. The
recognition of the duty to represent to
disputants the desirability of resorting
to the arbitration court entails no obli-
cations on the American people incon-
sistent with their traditional policy.
This is made absolutely clear by the
declaration signed by the American
delegation read in full at the conference
to-day and entered on the records
Mr. Lowe was busily engaged to-day
upon the elaboration of the final act
recording the work of the conference.
Mr.. Hollis has achieved a position of
influence much greater than many Of
the first delegates, and Captain Croz-
Ter is much admired for his plucky
fight in support of his amendment to
the Russian resolution of the dumdum
bullet.
THE relations between American
and other delegates, notably the En-
extremely friendly.
THE Englishmen and Americans
acted throughout almost like a joint
delegation. This was due to no ar
rangement or direction, but solely be-
cause both nations found common
ground of defense, common interests,
civilization and humanity.
''rhe only point on which the En-
glish delegates failed to support the
Americans was the resolution forbid
ding the capture of private property at
sea. To this the English representa-
tives were not opposed, but English
sentiment being opposed, the dele
gates had no instructions regarding the
matter, and abstained from taking any
action. After the arbitration conven-
ton is signed it will probably be open
ed to the adhesion of all other pow
ers not represented at the conference,
provided the original signatories do not
object. This right to blackball any
power wishing to join the convention
was insisted upon by Italy in order to
prevent the adhesion of the pope, and
by England on account Of the Trans
vaal. 1t is hoped that all the South
American states will come In.
ut is the unanimous opinion of all
the American delegates that the con-
ference begins new epoch, and the
good seed now sown will bear a rich
harvest hereafter.
WILLIAM T. STEAD"