The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1914-12-19

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Taking the situation all in all It
leaves Mr.. Neely's fences In q badly
broken condition and whether he will
be able to get them built up before
another Congressional election comes
around is yet to be seen.
While Great Britain is now involv-
ed in the greatest conflict of the CEN
turtles and the plans for an elaborate.
Observance Of the Anglo.American
peace centenary have necessarily been
abandoned, the British people and
their American cousins will not per-
nit Thursday to pass without some
recognition Of the tremendous and far
reaching Importance Of that peace
pact signed on December "a, 1914. The
city of Client, in war shattered Bel
GUM, was the scene of the signing OF
the compact which ushered tn a ZEN
tury OF peace between the English
speaking peoples. Client had planned
TO observe the event with striking GER
emonies, to which distinguished men
from the United States and all parts
Of the British empire had been In
vited, but the events of the last few
months have driven all thought of
peace celebrations from the minds of
Belgians.
Envy, Jealousy, old antagonists sur
vtving from past quarrels, fierce dis
putes which on several occasions
threatened to culminate in a conflict,
have married but not broken the peace
which has endured for a century.
Within the last decade, however, prac-
tlcally all differences have been amic-
ably settled, and the "hands across the
seas movement have been so
strengthened that now it seems i'm
possible that England and the United
States could ever again engage in war.
In the negotiations at Client a CEN
fury ago Great Britain was represent
cd by Gambler, Gouldburn and Will
lam Adams, while the United States
commissioners we're Bayard, Clay,
John Quincy Adams, Russell and Gal.
latin. Their deliberations continued
through several months, and it was
not until Washington of1ictaldom was
frightened by the threatening attitude
Of New England, and Great Britain
was facing the possibility Of another
European war that they reached an
agreement. The original Instructions
Of President Adams were to insist
pressment Of American sailors, but
with the northwestern states threat
ening secession the. President and his
Secretary Of State became willing and
eager to make concessions. The Brit
ish commissioners were instructed to
meet the Americans half way, and 50
a treaty was signed as a Christmas
gift to the warning peoples. Practl.
calIy speaking the treaty settled moth
ing, and all the bloodshed and waste
of treasure had been for nothing.
"It Is a BANKED bad treaty, and I
don't know whether ! will sign 1t or
not" said Henry Clay on the day be-
fore the ratification OF the document,
but after q night OF reflection he was
brought to the agreement Of his cor.
leagues.
While the treaty itself was indefiu-
lie, some citally important provisions
grow out OF It. In 1917 the London
and Washington governments agreed
that all armed vessels on the Great
Lakes should be dismantled and no
more built. This agreement was TO
be binding until six months notice
was given by either power. and al:
though the understanding effected by
the British minister to the United
States and the American Secretary OF
State was never formally ratified ell
ther by Congress or Parliament, 1t
has become an all binding power Of a
permanent treaty. When the agree
ment was entered into both Canada
and the United States had large yes.
sells under construction on the Lakes,
hut these were consigned to purposes
Of peace and commerce, and the in.
land seas have ever since been free
OF vessels OF war.
From 1914 until 1898 there was
scarcely a decade without some quar-
rel between Great Britain, and the
United States, and during that period
war between the powers was always
possible, although seldom at all prob.
able. Strangely enough, Anglo.Amer-
lean friendship was cemented by the
war, for it was the friendly attitude
of the British government toward the
United States during the war with
Spain that practically endedth Amer.
lean hostility to Britain. The attitude
OF Germany in the same war was
doubtless also responsible, to no small.
extent, for the widespread American
hostility toward the Kaiser's govern
ment in the present crisis. It is per-
haps too much to say in the light Of
recent events that war between Great
Britain and the United States has
become impossible, but 1T Is assured.
lylto be numbered among those things
which are highly and wildly fmprob.
able.
The Maine and Oregon boundary.
questions were the first disputes
which 9threatened Observation-Disclosures