Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-01-05
TWELVE PAGES
THURSDAY. JANUARY s. 1898.
A BIG CAT IN THE TREATY. MEAL
TUB.

AS we have discovered to our sor-
row. even what our supreme constitu-
ton says most distinctly amounts to
nothing. If judicial construction, or in
depreciation, chooses to nullify It, or
make 1t signify more, less, or different
from what 1t says. SO that. while theo-
retically. or nominally. the Federal con-
stitution and laws enacted by Congress
in pursuance thereof. and our ratified
treaties with other nations, are the
supreme law of the land, the fact is
that these are all subordinate to judi
cial opinion and decision. Therefore,
the publication of the Treaty of Peace.
Just concluded with Spain, at Paris.
gives us very little real information
y by supreme construction.
Besides this very variable qualifica-
Y tion or factor of construction that en-
ters into all public provisions. these
provisions are often governed by facts
or other information, concealed from
the public. or unknown to it, which
amount to secret articles, If these pro-
visions occur In treaty. For instance
nobody, save those in the secret of the
trick. knew that the omission of the
standard silver dollar from the amended
Mint regulations, by the bill of 1873,
would have such tremendous results,
especially as this omission was COW
cred by the insertion of the trade sill
yer dollar" Yet that apparently trif-
fling omission abolished the free and
unlimited coinage of silver (for 1t was
s attached to the standard silver dollar.
as very few understood), demonetized
silver metal or bullion. made gold the
practical basis of our money and cur
/ rency and brought all the woes ON the
people caused by the resulting contrac-
ton Of the currency and the gold
monopoly
There are certain provisions of the
Paris treaty, therefore, that are attract
ing much scrutiny and no little sus-
> picion, especially as 1t is understood
that this administration is in favor of
giving them construction of the most
liberal sort. 80 as to include or cover
great dea! of liability now unknown
70 the people. or cunningly concealed
from them. But will the Senate ratify
{ q treaty concealing vast consequences
or SO shaped as to be construable tc
embrace unknown liabilities. The pro.
visions are as follows:
Article recites that in assuming
military occupation Of Cuba, "tht
United States while the occupation con.
tinues. shall take upon themselves anC
fulfill the obligations. which by tho
fact OF occupation, international law
imposes on them for the protection OF
life and property"
Article VII provides that Spain ant
the United StaAs shall mutually re.
nounce all claim to national or pri
vate indemnity of whatever kind of ont
4 government against the other govern
ment. The United States shall
Judge and settle the claims of its citi
zens against Spain which are renowned
In this article"
Article XVI recites that "Shatever
obligations are accepted under thi.
treaty by the United States with re-
spect TO Cuba are limited to the perioC
OF their occupation of the island. but
al the END OF such occupation they vii
auvise the government that may bC
9 eslablished in the island that 1t should
aceept the same obligations
AN article in the Washington Star
I peileved to have received its inspira-
'ion at the White House. says:
Immediately upon the ratification OF
lne peace treaty by the Senate the
PRESIDENT will recommend to Congress
the enactment of legislation looking 10
the settlement of the claims of Ameri-
can citl peI Tor damages sustained in
Possessions which formed the seal Of If