The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-18
SUNDAY. FEBRUARY IS. 1900.
THE PEACE TREATY.

Over LBS years ago, Thomas Paine, in
used these words: 81 am thus far
Quaker, that 1 would agree with all the
world to lay aside the use of arms and
settle matters by Negotiations but, I'M
less the whole world wills. the matter
ends. We live not in world of
angels"
The world has grown perceptfbly more
angelic in the interval; yet the wish of
Thomas Paine, which only a dreamer, as
he was, could have entertained, has been
brought within what Mr. Gladstone call
ed the realm of practical politics.
The part which the United States of
america played in the endeayor to real
Ae this dream of altruists will in future
ages be regarded as one Of the grandest
Incidents In the career of this nation.
At The Hague American craftsmanship
showed the way, and not all the machina-
tions of old-world statecraft sufficed to
wholly defeat the laudable end toward
shich our representatives there wrought.
What have we done since to make good
the grand position which we then took?
1t Is many months ago. Many treaties,
of more or less Importance to this people,
have been under consideration by our
treaty-making authority since that time.
And they have been adopted. Others still
await immediate action. Why have not
our national authorities made good the
position taken at The Hague?
The question Is one which, so far as
Ais people know, admits of no answer
e9hich does not inolve reflection on the
aSod faith and sincerity of our claims be-
yOre the International peace commission.
We might at any time since the conven-
Ing of congress have acted on that
treaty. We should have been the first to
do So War and its horrors today af-
f1ict the two nations which assumed lead
ership then. The judgment of other ma
lions at least holds England and
the United States responsible for
waging war against freedom on
two weaker races. Justly or unjustly
judged, 1t is the belief of many that
both these wars might have been avoided
had not lust of conquest of others lands
authorities of England and America
which but q few brief months ago was
said to be given over to thoughts Of an
era of universal peace.
The South African strife Is Englands
affair; the Philippine trouble ours. There
is nothing in our attitude in the Philip
pines, If considered with reference to the
protested purpose of our national adj
ministratien to bring peace and self
government to those islands. to prevent
our at once tredeeming the pledges which
we made to the world at The Hague.
We should hasten to do so. We have
been soberly told that the failure to rat
fly The Hague treaty has prevented all
intervention on the part of other nations
to bring the prevailing warfare to an
end. We pleaded for the gentleness of
charity and human love, and we hold our,
own plea to be subject to d mere techni-
cality. We affected to lead the nations
of the world in the demand for peace, as
we emerged from successful war. We
remain as laggard as the most unwilling
of them in giving national effect to our
claims and pretensions.
This Is no mere matter of internal pol
itics. 1t goes to the very heart Of the
national honor The senate might at any
time in the past eleven weeks have rati-
fed The Hague treaty. Why 1t has de-
layed no one outside that body seems
to understand. The American people
have wished it ratified at the earliest
possible moment They still so wish. One
days deliberations would accomplish the
great end. Whatever be the fate of the
great movement which that treaty repre-
sents, its ratification with the opening of
the new year was profound moral OBJ
legation on the part OF this nation. Every
hours delay will be to our discredit- The
senator. whatever his politics, who will
force immediate action on eie subject