Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1905-04-13
Preserving PEACE
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT'S QUOTA.
TIONS Are CRITICISED.
Quoting Washington in Support of
the "Big Stick" Policy, the preSi-
dent Is Called Down by the Eastern
Press. Was the Mexican War
Unjust!

Unjust!
Several newspapers are giving Mr..
Roosevelt considerable trouble Just now
with respect to his quotations. 1t does
not seem exactly fair to hold to a strict
accountability on this line one who is
required to deliver as many addresses az
a"e demanded of the president. 1t is true,
however, that men should be very care.
full in using the language of others, par
ticularly when that language is employed
by way of justifying the orators course.
A writer in Harper's Weekly directs
attention to the Interesting criticism
made of Mr.. Roosevelt on this line. Mr..
Roosevelt said that among the maxims
bequeathed by George Washington in
his farewell address was the following
"To be prepared for war is the most
effective means to promote peace'
The New York Sun points out that
nothing of this kind appears in the fare
we'll address and that no unqualified
statement to the effect indicated by Mr..
Roosevelt is discoverable in any of his
extant ntterances. The Sun says: "The
nearest thing to it is the qualified asser-
ton made in Washingtons first annual
address. or message, sent to congress on
January 8, 1870. Then he suggested
that TO be prepared for war is one of the
NEST >effectual means of preserving
peace.'"
The Sun adds:
"Cautious as the statement is, it is
scarcely consistent with the conviction
at which Washington arrived near the
close Of his life, and which found earnest
expression in the following words: MY
first wish is to see this plague to man.
kind [war] baniehed from the earth, and
the sons aud daughters OF this world
employed in more pleasing and innocen,
amusements than in preparing imple.
ments and exercising them for the de-
struction OF mankind"
A Quaker correspondent of the Phila'
delphia Ledger directs attention to tine
fact that the modern battleship is clearly
nay, pre-eminently, one of the 'imple
ments" coming under the above cate
CORY. -.4
Mr.. Roosevelt is also quoted as saying
fsNeVer since the beginning of our coun
try's history has the navy been. used ir
an unjust war;"
.!The New York Evening Post remind
the president that the navy was used ir
the Mexican war, which General Gran,
pronounced one Of the most unjust eve,
waged by stronger against a weaker
nation. Assuming that Mr.. Roosev vel,
may decline to take his opinions second
hand from General Grant. Harper.
Weekly says that he cannot, with any
show of consistency, dissent from the
judgment rendered by himself in hi,
"Life OF Benton" when he spoke of the
Mexican war as "a wrong" and recorded
without disapproval, Benton's denuncia
ton of that act Of aggression.
Mr.. Roosevelt also quoted as one ol
WashingtCn's maxims: "Give to man,
kind the example of people always
guided by an exalted justice and benevo
lence.'
MIR. Roosevelt emphasized the FACT
that Washington put justice first, and he
asserted that by the treatment of the
Filipinos by Taft and Wright we have
shown the world how We practice the
justice which Washington enjoined
Commenting upon this statement, Har
per's Weekly gives to the president 6
reminder that cannot too often be i'm.
pressed upon the people as we'll as upor
the executive. Harper's says: GAS 6
matter of fact, the fundamental princi-
pie OF justice, upon which Washington
had acted from July 1, 1776, up to the
day OF his death. was that all govern.
ments derive their just powers from the
consent of the governed. If Washing
tons conception OF justice is to prevail
it is for the Flipinos, and not for US, tc
decide what kind OF government the,
shall have. That is the principle fol-
which Washington fought, and ii we are
to repudiate it, with what propriety dc
we honor his birthday or celebrate the
Fourth OF July?"
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