The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-12-29

ed would be not merely a farce, but a
farce played at the expense of our
reputation for national good faith and
sincerity believe most earnestly in
peace. and in taking any step for arbi-
tration which will genuinely tell in
favor of peace; and I oppose these
treaties because, IL unamended. they
would tell against peace and would
put US as a nation in an attitude of
unctuous and odious hypocrisy. Both
the Lodge and the Root amendments
should be adopted; the treaties would
then cease to be detrimental to our
national honor and interest, a
(holding in view the abrogatton of the
Russian treaty., would be relieved
from the present faint of evident in
sincerity although even then they
would represent a very small advance
over our present position.
Would Make Us Ridiculous
1T is possible with sincerity and
patriotism to favor the arbitration
treaties (although I personally dis
agree with this View. It is possible
with sincerity and patriotism to op-
pose the arbitration treaties. But it
Is neither sincere nor patriotic to
make believe to support the principle
Of arbitration in general, and to try
to get the country to commit itself to
this principle, and at the same time
to take part in or to cOnniVe at the
reputation by this country of the
principle so loudly advocated, the very
first moment that 1t is possible to re-
duce that principle to practice. In
other words, 1t will put this country
into a position both ridiculous and
discreditable to pass the proposed gen
eral arbitration treaties at the same
time that we denounce our geenral
treaty with Russia.
The other day the lower house
with but one dissenting vote, passed a
resolution in favor of the abrogation
of the treaty. Among those who yot-
ed for this motion are many men who
ho NIX Cd
ton treaties These men occupy a
sincere and consistent position: it is
the position with which I personally |
agree.
THE one dissenting vote was that |
cast by q gentleman who announced |
that he was in favor of the general ar
treaties, and therefore could |
not consistently take a position wholly |
with favoring them. AL |
though I do not agree with this gen
tleman, L feel that his position show
ed both courage and sincerity But |
surely all men who think clearly must |
condemn any man who |
advocates the general arbitration |
treaties without at the same time
fearlessly showing his sincerity by de-
nOunclng the proposal to abrOgate the |
Russian treaty without submitting it's
to arbitration. The sen
ate by vote has joined in abroSating |
the Russian treaty and therefore it
will act in a Wey to cast diScredit up /
on the United States, If it approves
the arbitration treaties unamended.
That Peace Meeting
''At the recent New York peace
meeting in favor Of the treaties
which ended in a riOt), it was not /
creditable to the speakers for those
treaties that they did not venture to
declare themselves on the one practi-
cal issue of the kind Of questions the
treaties are expected to SETTLE which
was actually before the people-that
IS, the matter of the abrogation of the
Russian treaty without effort to get
t authoritatively interpreted.
1T cannot be too often repeated
that these general arbitration treaties
are nothing whatever but general
promises. Their value lies wholly in
IS made and the fuI1ness with which
he promise is redeemed. DO not
believe in making these promises, be
cause I think that we are promising
too much, and because, moreover, I
fully believe, that as our action in
abrogating the Russian treaty, is
equivalent to open and cynical con-
fession that as a people we do not in
tend to keep our promises. that we
have no regard for the good faith of
the nation. that we are willing to
make improperly sweeping promises
TO please one set of men and at the
same time scandalously to break these
promises to please another set of men,
Terms Are Vague.
ssThese treaties are drawn in such
weeping and vague general terms es-
oecialIy in the use of the word 'justifi-
able that they might. in any concrete
,ase, be held to mean anything or moth
ng. and to encourage just the kind of
and bad faith which is
low being shown. One thing is certain,
f the question of the Interpretation of
/ treaty is not tjustifiable.' then there
never can be any question arise which
s justiffabIe. If the action taken in
the Russian treaty is not
litter and complete violation of the
whole spirit and purpose of the pro-
posed arbitration treaties, then the lat
er are not worth the paper on which
hey are written. believe that we are
light in abrogating the Russian treaty.
ust because I also believe that the
general arbitration treaties are not
worth the paper on which they are
written.
THE point upon which I insist is that
his nation should behave without by
1ocrisy and with straightforward sin
erity in its international relations:
hat it should not lie. nor make prom
ses which it would not keep.
Il do not question the honesty and
sincerity of the many good people who.
Without sufficient thought and in re-