Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. III.djvu/112

 84 LIVES OF THE PRESIDENTS precedent.&quot; The adoption of the treaty was a signal triumph for those who advocated the settle ment of international disputes by peaceful methods. The adoption of the rules contained in the treaty for the government of neutral nations was of far more importance than the money award. These rules were to govern the action of the two contract ing parties, and they agreed to bring them to the notice of other nations, and invite them to follow the precedent thus established. The rules stipulated that a neutral shall not permit a belligerent to fit out, arm, or equip in its ports any vessel that it has reasonable ground to believe is intended to cruise or carry on war against a nation with which it is at peace and that neither of the contracting parties shall permit a belligerent to make use of its ports or waters as a base of operations against the other. The two nations also agreed to use due diligence to prevent any infraction of these rules. On May 22, 1872, the amnesty bill was passed by congress, restoring their civil rights to all but about 350 persons in the south who had held con spicuous positions under the Confederate govern ment. President Grant s first administration had been vigorous and progressive. Important re forms had been inaugurated, and measures of vital moment to the nation, both at home and abroad, had been carried to a successful conclusion in the face of opposition from some of the most prom-