The Arbitration Treaty 175 



Senate or elsewhere asked to put a curb upon his 

 sanguinary propensities and see what will happen. 

 Nay, if we really prefer war to peace ; if, like the 

 giant in the nursery tale, we are thirsting for 

 a draught of British blood, neither this nor any 

 other treaty could long restrain us. As Hosea 

 Biglow truly observes, 



" The right to be a cussed fool 



Is safe from all devices human." 



It has been rumoured that some Senators will vote 

 against the treaty, in order to show their spite 

 against President Cleveland and Mr. Olney. If the 

 treaty should fail of confirmation through such a 

 cause, it would be no more than has happened be- 

 fore. Members of the Sapsea family have sat in 

 other chambers than those of the Capitol at Wash- 

 ington. But, as a rule, good causes have not long 

 been hindered through such pettiness, and should 

 the treaty thus fail for the moment, it would not 

 be ruined, but only delayed. In any event, it is 

 not likely to be long in acquiring its five years' 

 lease of life. If during that time nothing should 

 occur to discredit it, even should no cases arise to 

 call it into operation, its purpose is so much in har- 

 mony with the most enlightened spirit of the age 

 that it is pretty sure to be renewed. Should cases 

 arise under it, the machinery which it provides 



