The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-09-08

Gates 10 announce that II binds us TO
arbitrate everything and another set to
say that under it we would not have to
arbitrate anything we did not wish to.
now no moral movement is perma-
nently helped by hypocrisy. Does the
proposal to arbitrate the Monroe doc
trlne, the Platt amendment with Cuba
the payment of state bonds to Euro
pean bondholders, the question whether
various European countries are entitled
to the same concessions that Canada is
to receive under the reciprocity agree
ment, the right of other foreign ma
tons to interfere In Panama, our own
right to exclude any immigrants whom
we choose to exclude. If these ques
lions arose, Tam sure our representa-
tive would. privately or publicly, in
form foreign powers (and, indeed.
would have to inform foreign powers)
that the American people would never
abide by an agreement to arbitrate
them in which case the only proper
course to follow is that followed by the
senate committee and to say in honest
fashion that there are cretain ques-
tions which this nation will not arbi-
trate at the dictation of an outside
body. Critics of the senate in this
matter talk as if it had 'usurped' a
right. In reality, the senate has mere
ly performed a duty.
A FATAL OBJECTION.
the proposed treaty is the clause pro-
viding that the joint high commission.
which may be composed Conclusively
of national of the two countries, but
which also may be composed exclu-
sively of foreigners, may by unanimous
vote, or by vote of all but one of its
members, determine that any given
question whatever must be arbitrated.
1t is difficult to characterize this pro-
vision truthfully without seeming to
be offensive. Merely to speak of IT as
silly comes far short of saying what
had been said. 1t is agreeable that in
certain cases either of the two COM
ponent parts of the treaty making
power. the president or the senate,
should delegate the other for certain
purposes, the power of exclusive &C
! ton.
| But no sound argument can be
made for permitting both the presi-
dent and the senate to delegate to out
siders, possibly to foreigners. the exer-
else of a fundamental and vital power.
| The details of carrying into effect a
great and far-rea ching policy can ap-
| propriatelv be delegated; but the
elected servants of the people betray
the interest of the people if they shirk
the duty of themse deciding what
that policy shall be.
I'VE. the people Of the United States,
cannot and will not surrender to out
!
or not we are fit to decide for our
selves what are our vital needs and
! what are the policies proper for meet
! ing the needs. In other words, Uncle
Sam does not intend to wrong any one.
but neither does he intend to bind him
| self, if his pocket is picked, his nome
hurglarizeda or face slapped. to 'arbl-
| trate' with the wrong doer: and as
| long as he does not intend so to bind
| himself it would be offensive hyproc-
| risy for him to say that he will so bind
| himself
TT is our duty, so far as now pos
sibIe. so far as human nature in the
present day world will permit, to try
| to provide peaceful substitutes for war
as a method for the settlement of in
| terna tionaI disputes, but progress in
| this direction is merely hindered by
the folly that believes in putting peace
above righteousness while 1t is OF
| course even worse to pretend so to be-
lie~e. The greatest service this nation
| c, | render to Righteousness is to be-
have with scrUpulous justice to other
nations, and vet to keep ready to hold
| its own if necessary. Our chief use
! fitness to humanity rests in our COM
bining power with high purpose. Power
undirected by high purpose spells ca
lamity; and high purpose by Itself IS
| utterly useless If the power to put II
| into effect is lacking.
I'm the history of our country, the
neace advocates who treat peace as
more than Righteousness will never be,
and never have been of service either
to itor to mankind. The true lovers Of
ce. the men who have really helped
! onward the movement for peace. nave
been those who followed even though
afar off, the princinles of washington
and lincoln. and stood for righteous
ness as the supreme end of national
life, Only by acting on these prin-
! ciples, only by following in the foot
steps of these great Americans Of the
mast. can we Of the present generation
effectively work for and secure the
| of vic business.