The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-30
SYMPATHY FOR Beers.
Campaign Literature From the Pen
of Representative Shafroth.

of Representative Shafroth.
Representative shafroth of Colorado has
prepared a bit OF campaign literature
which is being extensively read by IRISH
and German Americans. His text is the
attitude of the Republican Administration
toward the Anglo Boer war. Mr. Shat 9th
is known as one of the most effective
speakers on the floor of the House, ard
one who by reason of his common mss
and general fairness has a large following
among those members who listen and vote
In statement which Mr. shafroth has
prepared for circulation on the subject Of
the war in South Africa. he says:
THE world has most important inter
est in this conflict, not only for the prin-
ciple that the right should always triumph
but for the reason that this war Is shut in 2
OFF more than one-third Of the worlds sup
ply OF gold, and its effect is being felt in
every moneyed centre Of the world, Caus-
ing stringency in matters OF finance, and
in some places disastrous panics.
1T is a disgrace to civilization that
questions of right should be determined by
might: that blood should flow In anlimited
quantities, ard the great nations of the
world stand by without even lifting their
voices in behalf Of peace
"a peace conference OF the leading "a
tons of the world was held last summer
at The Hague, and an international treaty
was formulated relative to rhe establis b.
ment of peace, which received the sigma
lures of the diplomatic agents of all the
twenty-six governments represented That
treaty was ratified by the United States
Senate on February &c, 1900.
1t has always been recognized as a
Drip fpla of int
shafrcth. THAT any power could offer me-
diation between combatants without dan
ger of International complications result
ing therefrom. That principle has been
recognized in the treaty of The Hague.
and an express duty imposed upon nat ons,
strangers to the controversy. to mediate
between contending powers in the interest
OF peace.
Article II of that treaty provides a,
follows:
In case Of serious disagreement and before An
appeal to arms, the signatory powers agree to
nave recourse as FAR as circumstances allow TO
the good offices or mediation Of one or more
friendly powers.
The time has passed when mediation
could be asked under that article II is
the next article that imposes the obliga-
ton upon nations, strangers tc the CON
troversy, to offer mediation to the States
in conflict.
Article III reads as follows:
Independently OF this recourse. the sigpato,v
powers recommend that one or more powers
strangers TO the dispute, should. on their own in
itiatiTe and as far circumstances allow, offer
their good offices mediation TO the States at
variance. Powers strangers TO the dispute nave
ne ih:ht to offer good offices or mediation even
enriLg the course OF hostilities. The exercise OF
this right can never be regarded by one or the
the other OF the parties in conflict as an unfriepd
i act.
1T is true that the United States rep
resentatives, above their signatures. wrote
a statement that nothing in the treaty
should be construed, to require the United
States to intrude upon or entangle itself,
in the political questions of foreign ma
tons. or imply an abandonment of its ira
dltionai policy toward purely American
questions. Yet such a course as is srg-
gested does not come within the reserva-
tion, as mediation is a friendly act to
both nations
But even II the United States were not
required by the treaty to mediate, it
surely possesses the power, aud the moral
obligation exists, as clearly as 1t does iron
any of the other nations
Mediation is in the interest of Deace.
it is a suggestion for arbitration. Ii is
not, like intervention, to be backed by
force. II the parties do not accept it.
force is not resorted to. The only effect
OF mediation, If rejected, is the moral
sympathy of the world for the nation
willing TO arbitrate and against the one
refusing so to do.
That influence is so great in the world
today that no nation would be willing 10
disregard 1t.
AS this mode OF ending hostilities Is
recommended, in fact enjoned, by the
twenty six great powers OF the world, 1t
ought to be invoked in the interest of
humanity and civilization, irrespective of
the right or wrong " this war. With how
much greater reason, then, ought the
United States TO invoke it when the ex-
istence of a sister Republic is endangered
and when the war, upon the part of Great
Britain, is the most unjustifable OF any
that has occurred in the history of modern
times.
Should not the Administration have at
least used this power to establish peace
between these nations, and thereby pre-
vent the further destructive results of a
bloody war?''