The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-13

John L. Grifiths. of Indianapolis, re-
sponded TO the toast, International Friend
ships" saying, in part:
Nothing is more pathetic and tragic than
isolation-severance from our kind. Moth
ing is more burdensome and oppressive
than enforced respect. The nation which
has won the good will of other nations be-
cause it has dealt fairly with them, re-
framing from sinister and brutal practices
and achieving its purposes in frank, OPEN
manly way, is a moral world power II Its
territory be only one hundred miles square
and its population but a handful of people
Civilization has been defined as the art OF
living together. A state of peace is neces-
sary for its highest expression and devel-
opment. True progress Is usually orderly,
free from passion and wrath, and is seldom
the offspring of war. The spread OF democ-
racy tends TO the creation, propagation and
perpetuation of international friendships
Most wars have been fought to crafty the
within or caprice of a ruler without any re-
gard to the welfare of the people. When
the nations of Europe are democrat ized,
masses are potential courts of arbitra ton
Will replace standing armies, swords will
be turned into plowshares and men Will
dwell together in peace and amlty. These
words may seem to be the words OF a Wis
ionary, spoken, as they are, while the two
greatest Christian nations are engaged in
war, but the words are, nevertheless, true,
since the expansion of trade and commerce
means the decline of militarism and the
fastening of universal peace. The principle
of federation is gradually extending its
story.
How signally have we been benefited by
international friendships in our three great
wars American independence would have
been greatly retarded had 1t not been for
the goodly offices of France. Our civil war
would certainly have been prolonged
through the Intervention of some of the
European powers if Russia had been I'M
friendly to our cause and had not sent a
fleet TO American waters showing who was
our friend when the whole world was our
foe. The Spanish-American war would,
perhaps, not have been ended while the
critics were debating how it should be
prosecuted unless England had shown that
her sympathies were wholly with her kin
across the sea.
THE Geneva award the Venezuelan COM
mission and the conference at The Hague
show how We are departing from the old
thought and practice OF submitting all con-
troversies between nations 10 the decision
of the sword.
THE coming visit OF Prince Henry is evil
dence of the desire of a great empire 10
strengthen its friendship with a great re-
public 1t has even recently been suggested
that statue be erected to Washington in
England in acknowledgment of the justice
of our war of independence. The sincere
EXPIRE sions of grief from King and Emper-
or and Car when President Mckinley was
assassinated showed how closely the ma
tons are knit together. In the field OF di-
plomacy this country has done more in a
little over a century than all the nations
did in all the preceding centuries to foster
international friendships.
How fortunate America has been I'm the
character of the statesmen who have rep
resented it in the courts OF Europe from
the time of Franklin and Jay, and Living
ston, to that OF Motley, and Lowell. and
Bayard, and Choate, and Charles Francis
Adams, and Andrew ID. White. and Horace
Porter. They have been men OF the ripest
scholarship, the widest culture and the
Hottest patriotism. combining a rare felic-
ity OF speech with a wondrous grace Of
manner and infinite tact.
There has been a disposition in this
country with our growing wealth and pros
perity to uHduly vaunt ourselves, TO sWag
ger Just a little and serve notice on Europe
that we are big enough TO stand alone and
wholly able to take care of ourselves. This
IS doubtless true, but how unnecessary and
ungracfous 70 act the braggart and bully
instead of making friends with Russia and
England and all the powers between. At
this time when we are adding TO our do
main We should guard against the spirit
of conquest, and adopt. as far as may be-
the golden rule our guide in dealing
with colonies and powers. II we DO this
we will follow the glorious example Of
Lincoln who went about his appointed task
with malice toward none and charity for
all loving his neighbor even better than
himself"