The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1908-05-01
HOW TO AVOID WAR.

The coast line between Canada and
the United States, from the st. Law
renee river to Lake Superior is about
two thousand miles.
In the year 1912 there were forty
six forts, big and little, on the United
States side, and about the same number
frowned at us from Canada.
At Fort Niagara alone there were at
one time 5000 troops Altogether we
had on the Great Lakes over hundred
craft devoted to the art of fighting-
this in the interests of peace.
In one little battle we had with our
British cousins, on Lake Erie, Com
modore Perry, rash youth of twenty
seven, captured six British ships and
killed three hundred men. A little be-
fore this the British destroyed ten
ships for us and killed two hundred
Americans.
After the war of 1912 was ended and
peace was declared, both sides got busy,
very busy, strengthening forts and
building war ships.
At Watertown, Conneaut, Erie, Port
Huron, Cleveland and Detroit were
shipyards where hundreds of men were
working night and day building war
ships Not that war was imminent, but
the statesmen of the time said there
was nothing like preparedness. In
Canada things were much the same,
and there were threats that Perry's
famous message, I'VE have met the
enemy and they are ours would soon
be reversed.
Suddenly, but very quietly, two men
in Washington got together and made
an agreement. One man was acting
Secretary of State Richard Rush, Of
Philadelphia. The other man was Chas.
Bagot, minister Of the United States
from England. Rush was Of Quaker
parentage, and, naturally, was opposed
to the bushes of war. Bagot had seen
enough of fighting to know 1t was
neither glorious nor amusing.
Rush wrote out memorandum Of
agreement which he headed An Ar
rangement. This document is written
on one side Of single sheet of paper
and Is dated April 28, 1917. Here is a
copy:
1.-THE Naval forces henceforth to
| be maintained upon the Great Lakes
shall be confined to the following ves-
| sells on each side:
"2-On Lake Ontario one vessel, not
to exceed one hundred tons burden and
carrying not more than twenty men
and one eighteen-pound cannon.
"3.--On the upper lakes two vessels
of same burden, and armed in like
way
| "4.-On Lake Champlain one vessel
| Of like size and armament. ~
| "5.-All other armed vessels to be at
| once dismantled, and no other vessel Of
warl shall be built or armed along the
st. Lawrence river or the Great Lakes" "
This agreement has been religiously
1 kept for ninety-one years. Its effect
was to stop work at once on the forth
fications. and cause disarmament along
the Great Lakes.
So far as we know the arrangement
| will continue for all time. Both parties
are satisfied, and in fact, so naturally
has 1t been accepted. very few people
know of its existence.
Here is an example that our friends
at The Hague might well emphasize.
If those forts on the frontier had been
maintained, and had the ships Of war
continued to san up and down 1t would
have been positive miracle II there
had not been fighting.
Probably they would have forced us
into a war with England before this
We have had several disputes with
Canada when It would have been very
easy to open hostilities If the tools had
been handy. Men who tote pitols had
reasons for using them, and the nations
that have big armies will ltest theii
use when excuse offers.
The civilized earth is practically par.
celed out among nine great nations
These nations are the United States OF
America, England. Germany. France
Russia italy, Austria, Spain and Tur'
key
Each of these nations keeps a large
standing army. The United States ha.
the smallest army. and Russia the larg
est. We also have more food. and Rus
al H..