Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1904-08-31

shall be spared to secure a continuance
of these relations. And, remember,
gentlemen, that we shall be potent fac
tor for peace largely in proportion to the
way in which we make it evident that
our attitude is due, not to weakness, not
to inability to defend ourselves. but to
genuine repugnance to wrongdoing,
genuine desire for self-respecting friend
ship with our neighbors. The voice Of
the weaklng or the craven counts for
nothing when he clamors for peace; but
the voice of the just man armed is po
tent. We need to keep in condition Of
preparedness, especially as regards our
navy, not because we want war, but
because we desire to stand with those
whose plea for peace is listened to with
respectful attention.
The Hague Tribunal.
From Message of Dec. 2, 1902.
AS civilization grows, warfare be-
comes less and less the normal condition
of foreign relations. The last century
has seen a marked diminution of wars
between civilized powers; wars with I'M
civilized powers are largely mere mat
tiers Of international police duty, essen
tiai for the welfare of the world. Where
ever possible arbitration or some SINH
lar method should be employed in lieu
of war to settle difficulties between civ
iized nations, although as yet the world
has not progressed sufficiently to rem
der it possible. or necessarily desirable,
to invoke arbitration III every case. The
formation of the international tribunal
which sits at The Hague is an event of
good omen from which great consequence
for the welfare of all mankind may
flow. 1t is far better, where possible,
to invoke such a permanent tribunal
than to create special arbitrator for
given purpose.
ct is matter of sincere congratula-
ton to our country that the United
States and Mexico should have been the
| first to use the good offices of The
Hague Court This was done last sum-
mer with most satisfactory results in
the case of claim at issue between us
and our sister Republic. 1t is earnestly
to be hoped that this first case will serve
as precedent for others, in which not
only the United States but foreign ma
tons may take advantage of the machn-
| cry already in existence at The Hague.
A Good Navy Not Provocative of War.
[FroIn Message of Dec. 2, 1907
"a good navy is not provocation Of
war; 1t is q sure guaranty Of peace.
* The refusal to maintain such
a (eficienD navy would invite trouble,
| and if trouble came, would insure disas-
| ter. Fatuous self-complacency, or van
ity, or short sightedness in refusing to
prepare for danger is both foolish and
1 xx-iol cd in oh
past experience has shown. that such
fatuity in refusing to recognize or pre-
pare for any crisis in advance is usu-
| ally succeeded by a mad panic of hys-
terical fear once the crisis has actually
| arrived"
Trium PHI for International Arbitr alton
| [From Message of Dec. Z, 1901
This triumph Of the principle of in
ternational arbitration Preference of the
| Venezuelan claims to The Hague Trib-
unaD is subject of warm congra tula-
ton and offers happy augury for, the
peace of the world.
''There seems good ground for the
] belief that there has been a real growth
| among the civilized nations of senti-
ment which will permit a gradual sub
| stitution of other methods than the meth
/ DDS of war in the settlement of disputes.
| It is not pretended that as yet we are
| near position in which it will be pos
| sibie wholly to prevent war, or that 4
! just regard for natural interest or honor
will i'll all cases permit Of the settle
ment of International disputes by arbi-
| tration, but by a mixture Of prudence
| and firnness with wisdom we think it is
| possible to do away with much Of the
proyocation and excuse for war and
at least i'll many cases to substitute
| some other and more rational method for
| the settlement Of disputes. The Hague
| Court offers SO good an example OF
| what can be done in the direction Of
such settlements that it should be en-
| couraged in every way"