The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-09-18
NO FOREIGN

William Jennings Bryan has written and made public a n omen
letter to the president in which he congratulates the national execu-
tive on his successful efforts in bringing about peace between Japan
n Russia and in which he suggests that congress be asked "for
aun0nty TO submit all international questions to an impartial board
for investigation and report" In MI. Bryan's view investigation
Will in nearly every case remove the cause of complaint and reconcile
the parties and he makes the further observation that 1T w "a a
glorious thing to end the war, but it would have been more glorious
to have prevented the war"
There is nothing new in the observation as verv fu Auu.o.u
citizens will fail to recognize it as a grandiloouent parapbrase Of that
ute but true saying, IAN ounce of prevention is worth a pound of
c"e II Will De admitted the peacemaker is blessed, but the peace
make IS OF likely to be successful in his efforts O rewarded bv
blessings unless the beligerents between whom he would establish
peace are willing to harken to the voice of reason.
when war was preciptated both Japan and Russia were not only
ready but anxious to hght-the one impened by the idea of national
sef-preservaton' the other animated by the desire for territorial
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. They were sovereign states and none could have
prevented them from carrying out their purpose except some power
able and willing to thrash both 1t is possible for a sturdv police
man to maintain peace between two bellicose stree urcbins b.c,r..
he Is able to deal effectively with both. but when great nations decid.
to hight the methods of the policeman would be impractical and
abortive.
In its essence, Mr.. Bryans proposal is that this country shall
constitute itself a sort of international policeman. The suggestion
may be and probably is well meant, but it is not likelv ito recev. anu
very general approval, much less to be adopted as a policy. Tb.
United States has quite as much as it ought to undertake in the line
o foreign interference in maintaining the principles of the Monroe
octih without NEEDING with affairs in which nations on distant
continents alone are directly concerned. 1t is easy to conceive that
such needing might prove a S perilous as those "entanging alliances"
against which the republics first president gave such a wis and
pointed warning.
when Russias army had been repeatedly defeated on land. when
her naval power had been swept from the seas, when she was rer,c.d
1t home by revolution she was in a mood to consider peace Vic.
torious Japan realized that she had nearly exhausted her Young man.
mood; that II the war were prolonged she must draw O N the middle
aged thus paralyzing her domestic industries and her commerce
while a the same time increasing her financial burdens. She. too
willing to consider peace.
( was at this psychological moment President Roosevelt inter.
vened tor the purpose of bringing the conflict to an end. He was sic.
oessfu, and the world and humanity are his debtors. Had he moved
earht lis efforts would in all probability have proven futile; had he
later they might have been abortive. In a word his success
was due to his keenness in knowing when the right time came to do
III night thing and in doing it in the right way.
NO american board for foreign meddlng such as Mr.. BRYAN pro-
PoSes" would achieved anything else than dismal failure had Il
oeen IN existence and capable Of interfering in the recent conflict be-
tween the car and the miksdo. Mr.. Bryan is as fallaciors roy, :,
oeneVine thus nation can issue a fiat Of international peace and com.
pei IT'S observance IS ne has heretofore been in contending that he can
coin hfty cents worth Of silver into a dollar th~ will have :. ~
chasing power of one hundred cents.