IO4
THE GREEN BAG
and various other. powers. While the terms of these treaties have not yet been made public, it is authoritatively stated that they are substantially the same as the arbitra tion treaty of 1903 between Great Britain and France. SPECIAL DUTY OF THE UNITED STATES TO AID THE MOVEMENT.
I can not doubt that it is the present paramount duty of the people of the United States to give to this movement in favor of limited compulsory arbitration, now at a critical stage, the entire weight of their moral influence. That something we call destiny was not acting blindly when it planted this great Republic here in isola tion, midway between Europe and Asia, so that it might become the most independent and therefore the most potential arbitrating power in the world. The high place to which we have now attained, from small beginnings, has been reached through two stages of growth. When we signed the treaty of peace of 1783 with Great Britain our position in the world was hopeful but not commanding. Our rise did not really begin until the wisest and strongest Ameri can expansionist, casting aside the weakest of all constitutional quibbles, added Louisi ana to our domain, thereby securing the ultimate control of this continent and free dom from complications with European powers. If that step had not been taken we should have been in no position to defy the Holy Alliance when, in 1822-3, it re solved to dispute our primacy in the New World. For the second time the great Vir ginia expansionist came forth, and from his library at Monticello he sent out a defini tion of our new position in the family of nations, and that definition was labeled with the name of Mr. Munroe. Mr. Jeffer son did more than all other men combined to establish the supremacy of this republic in the affairs of this hemisphere. Andrew
Johnson and Mr. Seward did something when at the end of our civil war they in vited France to retire hurriedly from the soil of Mexico. President Cleveland did far more when he notified the greatest of the world powers, in the affair of Venezuela, that the arbitrating power of the United States in this hemisphere is absolute and irrevocable. When Great Britain, in a just and wise spirit accepted that conclusion, the foundations were laid for that stronger and better understanding which now, thank God, unites the two great branches of the English speaking people in a moral alliance for the good of humanity. The results of the Spanish-American war have extended our influence beyond the affairs of this hem isphere; they have brought to us invaluable possessions in the eastern and the western isles. We have advanced to a position of commanding influence in the family of na tions. Let us make no mistake; let us in dulge in no self-deception. This aggressive and rapidly growing nationality is neither cowardly nor incompetent. It does not pro pose to retreat; it does not propose toshrink from the discharge of any of the high duties that destiny has put upon us. Let us remember one thing so clearly illustrated by the politics of the British Empire. In the conduct of our foreign affairs, let ushush all local differences, and stand shoul der to shoulder when we are called upon todeal with foreign nations. To that extent at least, let us resolve to be non-partisan and non-sectional. When a great Secretary of State, like the Hon. John Hay, wise, pa triotic, tolerant, just to all men, is pressing forward some great measure like this for the common good of all mankind, let us not stop to inquire whether he is a demo crat or a republican. Let it suffice for us to know that he is an American. WASHINGTON, D. C., Dec., 1904.
