Los Angeles herald., 1906-12-05
HERALD. WEDNESDAY MORNING DECEMBER S

killing several hundred seals and carry
ing Off the skins of most OF them.
Nearly all the seals killed were fe-
males and the work was done with
frightful barbarity. Many of the seals
appear to have been skinned alive and
many were found half skinned and still
alive. The raids we're repelled only by
the use of firearms, and five of the
raiders were killed, two wounded and
twelve captured, including the two
wounded. Those captured have since
been tried and sentenced to imprison-
ment. An attack of this kind had been
wholly unlocked for, but such pro-
vision of vessels, arms and ammu-
milton Will now be made that its repe-
tition will not be found profitable.
Suitable representations regarding
the incident have been made to the
government of Japan, and we are as
sured that all practicable measures will
be taken by that country to prevent
any recurrence of the outrage. on our
part, the guard on the island will be
Increased and better equipped and or
ganized, and n better revenue cutter
patrol service about the islands will be
established next season a United
States war vessel Will also be sent
there.
Dickering with England
We have not relaxed our efforts to
secure an agreement with Great Britain
for adequate protection of the seal
herd, and negotiations with Japan for
the same purpose are in progress.
The laws for the protection of the
seals within the jurisdiction of the
United States need revision and amend
ment. Only the islands of st. Paul
and st. George are now, in terms, in
cluded in the government reservation,
and the other islands are also to be
included. The landing of aliens as well
as citizens upon the islands, without
permit from the department of COM
merce and labor, for any purpose ex-
cept in case of stress of weather or for
water, should be prohibited under ade-
quate penalties. The approach of ves-
sells for the excepted purposes should
be regulated. The authority of the
government agents on the islands
should be enlarged, and the chief agent
should have the powers of commit
ting magistrate. The entrance of
vessel into the territorial waters sur
rounding the islands with intent to
take seals should be made a criminal
offense and cause of forfeiture. Author
ity for seizures in such cases should
be given and the presence on any such
vessel of seals or sealskins, or the par
aphernalia for taking them, should be
made prima facie evidence of such in
tent. 1 recommend what legislation is
needed to accomplish these ends, and
1 commend to your attention the re-
port of Mr.. Sims of the department of
commerce and labor on this subject.
In case we are compelled to abandon
the hope of making arrangements with
other governments to put an end to
the hideous cruelty now incident to
pelagic sealing, it will be question
for your serious consideration how faf
we should continue to protect ana
maintain the seal herd on land with the
result of continuing such a practice,
and whether it is not better to end the
practice by exterminating the herd
ourselves in the most humane way
possible.
Second Hague Conference
In my last message 1 advised you
that the emperor of Russia had taken
the initiative in bringing about sec
ond peace conference at The Hague.
Under the guidance of Russia the ar
of the preliminaries for
such a conference has been progress
ing during the past year. PROGRESS
has necessarily been slow, owing to the
great number of countries to be con-
arisen. 1t is a matter of satisfaction
that all of the American republics have
now, for the first time, been inviteN
to Join in the proposed conference.
The close connection between the
subjects to be taken up by the Red
Cross conference held at Geneva last
summer, and the subjects which natur-
ally would come before The hague
conference, made 1t apparent that II
Red Cross conference completed and
considered by the different powers be-
fore the meeting of The Hague. The
Red Cross conference ended it's lapors
on the 9Th day of July, and the re-
yised and amended convention, 'Whlch
was signed by the American delegates,
will be promptly laid before the senate.
By the special and highly appre-
ciated courtesy of the governments OF
Russia and the Netherlands, proposal
to call The Hague conference together
at a time which would conflict with the
conference of the American republics
at Rio de Janeiro in August was laid
aside. No other date has yet been sug-
gested. A tentative program for the
conference has been proposed by the
government of Russia, and the sub
iects which it enumerates are under
going careful examination and consid-
Grafton in preparation for the confer
ence.
Peace and Righteousness
1t must ever be kept in mind that
war is not merely justifiable, but inn
perative, upon honorable men, upon an
honorable nation, where peace can only
be obtained by the sacrifice OF con-
scientious conviction or of national well
fare Peace is normally great good,
and normally it comedies with righte-
BUSINESS, but it is righteousness and not
peace which should bind the conscience
OF an Individual, and neither a nation
nor an individual can surrender con-
science to anothers keeping. Neither
can a nation, which is an entity, and
which does not die as individuals die,
refrain from taking thought for the in
terest of the generations that are to
come, no less than for the interest of
the generation of today; anu no public
men have a right, whether from short
sightedness, from selfish indifference
or from sentimentality to sacrifice ma
tional interests which are vital In char
acter. A just war is in the long run
far better for a nations soul than the
most prosperous peace obtained py
acuuiescence in wrong or injustice.
Moreover though 1t is criminal for