Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-02-12
One Hundred Years of Peace in the
English World-Public Opinion Of
ten Tried = The Philosopher and
the Historian Do not See Alike
The Separation of the Daughter
From the Mother Caused Anger in
All Concerned.
By w. T. Williams.

The fact that the English-speaking
people throughout the whole world
have been at peace with one another
for one hundred years deserves more
than a passing notice. It is a mighty
testimony In their favor, and the inn
of it is so great that we
are delighted, losing ourselves some
times In rapture as we reflect upon
their growth and development along
all lines during this period. The
credit which is due them is very large
and when we remember that their
to quarrel have been so
severe and varied, more than once
reaching point from which it SEEM
ed impossible to. escape, it becomes
immeasurable. Then, the impressive
fact merits a celebration suitable for
such an accomplishment, and we re-
joice that both nations have resolved
that such shall be the case. The 14th
day Of February has been set apart
for the occasion.
It is true that during this long
period that public opinion has been
stirred, and even strained
affair of diplomacy in England as well
Historians have recorded in the
everlasting annals of mankind that
the tempting occasions for misunder-
standing and armed conflict have been
more between these nations than be-
tween the United States and all 9TH
er nations of the earth combined.
not be otherwise under the circum-
prf% scI o,,I 4t,<,
United States meet at many points,
tion. Commercially they are often
in trying competition, and their ter
ritorial ambitions in days gone by
have been in the utmost keen. Never
theless, a period of one hundred years
them. In the language of Nicholas
Murray Butler: sThis fact is of itself
an eloquent testimony to the temper
and self-restraint of the English
speaking peoples and noble tribute
to the statesmen who have in success
sion guided their policies and conduct
ed their international business. The
long visible line which separates the
United States and the Dominion of
Canada has been left unguarded de-
rapidly expanding peoples have been
pushing steadily westward on either
side of it. This long, invisible, un-
guarded line is the most convincing
testimony that the world has to offer
to the ability Of modern self-discip-
lined people to keep the peace. It af-
fords an example which it is not un-
reasonable to hope may one day be
universally followed"
The philosopher in his quiet sane
tum might wonder that the two ma
tions have decided to celebrate this
long continuance of peace. He In his
secluded corner looks upon peace as
natural. In his meditations on the
folly and cruelty of war he has been
led to suppose that peace between two
great nations kindred in blood, both
highly intelligent and highly civilized,
is natural. The feeling of the his
torian are very different. He knows
that the power of jealousies, rivalries,
antagonisms over peoples are not to
be regarded slightingly. They are
realities to him. He has watched
their progress and the havoc they
have worked in the world. He knows
that rulers as well as many citizens
are not magnanimous in their manner.
Sometimes they are petty and greedy,
not taking into consideration the well
fare of their neighbors. He knows
that the moral law has not been the
rule of their conduct in every particu-
lar, and therefore he knows that the
maintenance of peace among the ma
tions is not at all an easy perfor-
nance.
Since the separation, begun in 1776,
sealed by treaty in 1888, many have
been the causes for quarrel. The
angry feelings which the War of
Revolution had left in the bosoms of
i all concerned are not to be looked up
on as trifing. It was profound and
oftentimes craving for vent. On this
point James Bryce says: "Tho be-
havior of some of the British forces,
and especially of the Hessian mercen-
aries, had exasperated colonial senti-
ment, while the harshness with which
the revolutionary party among the
Americans had treated those of their
fellow citizens who adhered to the
British Crown had sown the seeds of
more enduring anger, especially
among those United Empire Loyalists
who when expelled from the United
States took refuge in Canada. For
many years afterwards the offensive
ly supercilious attitude of the Eng
lish and the self-assertive arrogance
of the American made the average
man in each people distasteful to the
other, and it was only the wisest and
largest minds that preached good un-
derstanding and good feeling. These
aversions did not die down till the
Civil War Of 1865, with its display
of courage and high spirit on both
sides, had brought Europeans to re-
spect the American people, and had
given that people itself new martial
deeds to be proud of, deeds of a valor
which had not been directed against
the old country" This was far
reaching, and as we have seen, hard
to eradicate. 1t had taken a deer
root at the bottom of both nations
the mother and the daughter-and the
quarrels of kinsfolk are proverbially
bitter. 1t was easy then as it is now
to start trouble, but to settle it, j,
took years then as it does now. Bet.
ter it is to be fair and manly.
Besides all this-these unpleasant
memories other important contro
versies arose over material interest.
that emerged from time to time. We
read that the northeastern frontier
borders on New Brunswick and Lower
Canada had been left uncertain by tn.
treaty of 1888, and also by that O.
1914, and as the country began to b,
settled the disputes over It becam.
threatening. After the Webster-Ash
burton treaty of 1912 had rendered
this question harmless, then another
boundary quarrel arose about tn,
region which was called Oregon a
that time. This again was settled il
1846, and following this came tn,
harrassing dispute relating to San Jual
in the straits of Juan de Fuce. TIL
frontier of Alaska, which we call tn
Yukon, appeared next. Following ehi
the tiny island, named Pope's Folly
was considered. After all these try
ing matters were handled without tn
help of the sword, the seal fisherie
of the Pacific were settled. But, sue