The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1912-01-04

ferAl aTOltrdtlOn treaties, TO arDitratt
such questions, we should instantly
repudiate the agreement whenever
concrete case arose in which anJ
considerable number of our citizens
took an active interest. Under such
circumstances to proceed with tbs
Ratification OF the general arbitra.
tion treaties unamended would be
not merely farce, but a farce
played at the expense OF our repta,
ton for national good faith and sin.
certify. ! believe most earnestly in
peace, and in taking any steps fol
arbitration which will genuinely
tell in favor OF peace; and I oppose
these treaties because. If unamend.
ed, they would tell against peace
and would put US as nation in an
attitude Of unctuous and odious ny.
pocrisy. Both the Lodge and the
Root amendments should be adopt
red; the treaties would then cease to
be detrimental to our national hon
or and interest. and (holdlng in
view the abrogation OF the Russian
treaty. would be relieved from the
present faint OF evident insincerity
although even then they would
represent a very small advance over
our present position.
1T is possible with sincerity and
patriotism to favor the arbitration
treaties Calthough personally dis
agree with this view). 1t is posi-.
BILE with sincerity and patriotism 10
oppose the arbitration treaties. But
it is neither sincere nor patriotic to
make believe to support the princi-
pie 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 10
connive at, the reputation by this
country of the principle so loudly
advocated. the very first moment
that it is possible to reduce that
principle to practice. In other
words, it will put this country in a
position both ridiculous and dis
creditaole to pass the proposed gen.
erai arbitration treaties at the same
time we denounce our general
| treaty with Russia
THE other day the lower House,
with but ono dissenting vote. passed
resoltion in favor OF the abroga-
ton of the treaty Among those
who voted for this motion are many
men who are against the unamended
arbitration treaties. These men oc-
cupy sincere and consistent posi-
ton; 1t is the position with which
l personally agree. The one dis
senting vote was that cast by a gen.
tleman who announced that he was
in favor of the general arbitration
treaties, and therefore could not
consistently take a position wholly
incompatible with favoring them.
Although I do not agree with this
gentleman. feel that his position
showed both courage and sincerity.
But surely all men who think clearly
must unqaulifiedly condemn any
man who advocates the general ar
bitration treaties without at the
same time fearlessly showing HIS
sincerity by denouncing the proposal
to abrogate the Russian treaty
without submitting its interpreta-
tIon to arbitration. The Senate by
vote has Joined in abrogating the
Russian treaty and therefore it will
act in a way to cast discredit upon
the United States II it approves the
arbitration treaties unamended. Al
the recent New York peace meeting
in favor OF the treaties (which ended
in a riot) 1t was not creditable to
F, the speakers for those treaties that
they did not venture to declare
themselves on the one practical is
sue, of the kind the treaties are ex-
pected to settle. which was actually
before the people-that is, the mat
ter OF the abrogation of the Russian
treaty without effort to get it au-
thoritatively interpreted.
\ ut can not be too often repeated
that these general arbitration treat,
les are nothing whatever but gen
eral promises. Their value lies
wholly in the sincerity with which
the promise is made and the fullnesE
with which the promise is redeemed
I do not believe in making these
promises, because / think that We
are promising too much, and be.
cause, moreover, I fully believe tai
our action in abrogating the Rus.
sian treaty is equivalent to open
cynical confession that as a people
we do not intend to keep our prom,
ises, that We have no regard for tn,
p6td faith oF ~ n,tKnn A.. - =,