The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-06-21

for 30 years. A multitude of miners
swift to defend their own rights by
force were locating mining claims IN
der the laws of both countries in the
disputed territory. At any moment a
fatal ARRAY between Canadian and
American miners was liable to begin
a conflict in which all British Columbia
would be arrayed on one side and all
our Northwest upon the other. Agree
ment was impossible. But the Alaskan
boundary treaty of January "A, 1908,
provided a tribunal for the decision OF
the controversy; and upon legal proofs
and reasoned argument, an appear mas
been had from prejudice and passion
10 judicial judgment; and under the
lead of a great chief justice OF England
who held the sacred obligations OF ms
judicial office above all other constdera-
lions, the dispute has been settled Tor
ever and substantially in accordance
with the American contention
international Arbitration.
In 1900 the first administration of Nc
Kinley had played a great part IN es-
tablishing The Hague tribunal 1oI IN
ternational arbitration. Ihe pre- Ndllll .l
opinion of Europe was lncredu lous 40
10 the practical utility OF the prov SIO1A'
and anticipate a paper Irlbuilal III
sought by litigants 1t was the eAdLll
pie of the United States when set at
naught this opinion. The 1rst lhIeIila-
tional case taken to The hague lllpu-
nal was under our prOtocol with NeAl-
co of MAY -. 1902, submitting our con-
tentfOn for the rights of the Roman
Catholic church in California TO a snare
of the church moneys held by the Next
can government before the cess1on, ana
known as the pious fund; and the tlrst
decision of the tribunal was an award
In our favor upon that question
When i'm 1903 the failure of Venezuela
to pay her just debts led England, Ger
many and Italy to warlike measures Tor
the collection of their claims, an ap-
Erearsn n rn1e at
resulted in agreements upon arbitra-
ton in place of the war, ana IN re-
quest that our President should act as
arbitrator. Again he promoted the
authority and prestige Of The Hague
Tribunal and was able to lead all
the powers to submit the crucial ques-
tiOns in controversy to the determine
ton of that court It is due greatly
to support by the American govern
rr,ant that this agency for peace has
a disappointed the expectations of its
detractors. and by demonstrations of
practical usefulness has begun ca
reer fraught with possibilities OF IN
ca lculable benefit to mankind
on the 18th of April. 1903, was pro
claimed another convention between
all the great powers agreeing upon
more humane rules Tor the cohauct OIL
war; and these in substance Incorporate
ed and gave the sanction Of the civ
Nized world to the rules drafted by
Francis Lieber and approved Dy Apra-
ham Lincoln for the conduct OF the
armies of the United States in the
field
All Americans who desire safe and
conservative administration which
shall avoid cause of quarrel, all who
abhOr war all who long for the per-
feet sway of the principles of that re-
lgion which we all profess, should
rejoice that under this Republican ad-
ministration their country has at
tanned a potent leadership among the
narfoUg i'm the cause of peace and in
ternatiOnal justice
The respect and moral power thus
gained has been exercised in the in
reTests of humanity. where the rules
of displomatic intercourse have made
formal intervention impossible. When
the Roumanian outrages and When
the appalling massacre at Kishineff
shocked civilization, and filed thou
sands of our own people with mourn
ing. the protest of America was heard
through the voice of its government,
with full Observance of diplomatic
rules but with moral power and eff
feet.
We have advanced the authority of
the Monroe Doctrine Our adherence
TO the convention which estab lished
The Hague tribunal was accepted by
larauOn that nothing therein con-
tanned should be construed to imply
the REIMBURSEMENT by the United
States of its traditional attitude to-
ward purely American questions The
armed demonstration by the European
powers against Venezuela was made
the occasion for disclaimers to the
United states of any intention to seize
the territory of Venezuela, recogniz-
ing in the most unmista able way the
rights of the United States expressed
in the declaration of that traditional
policy.
Army and Navy.
In the meantime mindful that
moral powers unsupported by physical