The Hastings Standard Published Daily. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 1897. THE ANGLO-AMERICAN ARBITRATION TREATY.

Hastings Standard, Issue 273, 17 March 1897, Page 2

The Hastings Standard Published Daily.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 1897. THE ANGLO-AMERICAN ARBITRATION TREATY.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrongs that need resistance. For the future in the distance. And the good that we can do.

The British nation and the people of the great Republic have both decided that questions arising between the two countries must be settled peacefully and upon a basis of dispassionate justice, and no Government dare venture to disappoint them. On the British side, the desire to give effect to the great Anglo - American Arbitration Treaty has never been in doubt. When President Cleveland's explosive message to Congress bearing on the Venezuela boundary dispute was delivered, and its full significance understood the two great English-speaking nations, in their homes on both sides of the Atlantic were electrified, and although for a moment jingoism appeared to predominate the more level-headed Statesmen in both countries recognised that it would be nothing short of criminal to let an incident amenable to a pacific and honorable settlement, to throw the two nations into conflict. Wise counsels prevailed and after much * negotiations remarkable for the earnestness of both sides, and manifested in the mutual concessions, a treaty having arbitration as its basis was concluded, subject to ratification by the respective Parliaments. The assembling of Congress in December last, caused Mr Olney the then Secretary of State to produce the Treaty and notwithstanding the strong recommendations of President Cleveland, the Senate Committee found it desirable to place obstacles in the way of ratification. Amendments were proposed and concessions were demanded which, if acceded to, would have destroyed the usefulness and the fairness of the provisions of the document. Under these circumstances Lord Salisbury made it wry clear that the Treaty had ty be accepted by Congress in Us entirety or not at all ; still the Arbitration Treaty was hung up. in the meantime -Mr Cleveland's term of the Presidency expired, and a new President selected by th<> Party op]>osed to President Cleveland has taken oftice and a special .session of Congress has b«vn convened and began its sittings yesterday to deal with this Treaty and other imjK>rtant matters affecting the nation.

Tin- Anglo - American Arbitration Treaty has in ri .ilily nrvt-r ln>.n in i«o|w\nlv • \ > n with the o|>po-iti.>n to it iu tb« h< a«n*!. American politic-! ami Aui> rican political in.-»tuuU"/n> ate a ia tbeanwlveai, and it is

only a close student that can appreciate the apparent " cussedness " which ever and anon is revealed in connection with important subjects. The United States Senate though corresponding in some respects to the House of Lords, has widely different powers. The United States Senate possesses not only legislative powers, but also executive and judicial functions. In its executive capacity it approves of treaties and appointments made by the President, which must be laid before it for ratification. In its judicial capacity it sits as a high court of impeachment, before which a President or any other high official may be tried. Its legislative functions are equally extended. When the Anglo--American Arbitration Treaty was submitted to the Senate for ratification in December last, the makers of the Treaty that is to say President Cleveland and his Cabinet, were moribund, and to have ratified the Treaty would have been giving credit to the Democratic party which at election time would be useful as a political sing-song. The Republicans were too astute to permit of any such folly on the part of the Senate, and the usual wire pulling which in America has been brought to the perfection of an exact science,, has had the effect of postponing the ratification of the Treaty. It will now be submitted to the Senate for reconsideration, and backed up by the powerful recommendations of a millionaire cabinet it is certain to be ratified. The Republican will get the credit that really belongs to the Democrats, and that is the unblushing claim of President M'Kinley and his plutocrats. The ratification could have been effected in December, but the exigencies of party necessitated delay and this has been accomplished in the usual American style. The Treaty itself is acceptable to the people, and no Government would dare to act in opposition to the people, but there is nothing to prevent a Government by a little judicious nobbling, to turn the popular demands into a credit account for the party. The American people will now get the glorious peace-preserving Arbitration Treaty from the Republicans, although the real credit is due to the Democrats.