Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1903-12-10

fers So good an example Of what can be
done in the direction Of such settlement
thar 1t should be encour. grd in every way.
Further steps should be taken. In
President Mckinley's annual message OF
December 5, 1875, he made the following
recommendation: The experiences of the
last year bring torcibly home TO us sense
Of the burdens and the waste OF war, we
desire, in common with most civilized ma
lions, TO reduce To the lowest possible
point the damage sustained in time Of war
10y peaeeable trade and commerce. 1t Is
true we may suffer in such eases less than
other communities. hut all nations are
damaged more or less by The state OF I'M
easlness and apprehension into which an
commercial world. 1t should be our OBJ
ject, therefore, to minimize, so FAR as prac-
tlcahle, this inevitable loss and disturb
ance, This purpose can probably best be
accomplished by an international agree
ment TO regard all private property AT sea
as exempt from capture or destruction by
the forces of helilgerent powers. The
United States government has for many
years advocated this humane and bcneti-
cent principle, and is now in position to
recommend II to other powers without the
imputation of selfish motives. | therefore
suggest for your consideration that the eN-
ecutlve be authorized to correspond with
the governments of the principal maritime
powers with n view of Incorporating into
the permanent law of civilized nations the
principle of the exemption Of all private
property ut sea, not contraNand Of war,
from capture or destruction by hclligerent
powers" | cordially renew this recon-
mcndatiun.
The supreme court. speaking on Decem-
bcr II, 1899, said 1T is, we think, hiStor-
ically accurate to say that this government
has always been. in its views. among the
most advanced Of the governments of the
world in favor Of mitigating, as To all non
combatants, the hardships and horrors OF
war. To accomplish that object l. has al
ways advocated those rules when would
In most cases do away with the right 70
capture the private property of an enemy
on the high seas. :"
| advocate this as a matter of humanity
and morals. II is auachroniStic when prl-
Nate property Is respected on land that IL
should not be respected At sea. Moreover,
ii should he borne In mind that shipping
represents, internationally speaking, Il
much more gcneraiized species OF private
property than is the ease with ordinary
property ON land-that is, properly found
at sea is much less apt than is the case
WAN property tound on land really to be
long to any one nation. Under the modern
system of corporate ownership the ilaE OF
a vessel often differs from the Nag which
would mark the nationality OF the real
ownership and money control of the YES
sci, and the cargo may belong Ia in
ulvidualS of vet different nationality.
Much American capital is now invested IN
foreign ships; aud among foreign nations
1t often happens that the capital of one is
largely invested in the shipping of another
| Furthermore, as practical matter, II may
be mentioned that while commerce destroy
ing may cause serious loss and great an
noyGnCe, 1t can never be more than sub
SidiarN factor in bringing to terms a reso-
Lutte foe. This is now well recognized by
all of our naval experts. The fighting ship.
not the commerce destroyer. Is the vessel
whose feats add rcnown to nations his
tory. and establish her place among the
great powers of The world.