The Washington times., 1905-08-30
Our New Leadership.

Through the agency of an American
President great war between two
great nations has been brought to an
end. This is the most signal achieve
ment in the cause of reason, of peace,
of humanity, accomplished by the
head OF any people for more than a
century. 1t is a triumph of manly
directness and an earnest concern for
: the good of all mankind. and in its
inception and its result it is chiefly
the work of Theodore Roosevelt.
1t is not forgotten that other ma
tions have made their influence felt
in the cause of peace Russia, a
principal in the negotiations which
are now so fortuitously concluded,
first gave form to the general desire
for arbitration as a substitute for
war by proposing The Hague Inter-
national Tribunal. But The Hague
tribunal is even now little more than
"a name, and this peace is a result
measurable in lives saved, in homes
firmly established.
Two great armies We're in the field
and great navy had been swept from
the sea- Every right for which the
japanese arms were contending had
been wrested from her antagonist.
The logical end of the conflict had
been reached. Yet neither Japan nor
Russia was willing to strike the bal
anee. There was but one power in
the world, the United States, not re-
garded with suspicion by one or the
other of the combatants. And at that
1uncture the representative of that
power brought them together, prac-
tically against their will, for the con-
sideration of terms. 1t was the move
OF strong mana man strong in
initiative. in wisdom. in love for his
fellows.
Twice the delegates of these nations
were about to separate. Both times
they were held together by the per-
sonal power and the national infiu-
ence represented by our President.
The success of the conference. there
fore. is his success. 1t was made DOS
sible by him and it has depended upon
him
If the achievement has been the
Presidents, the advantage is the ma
tons America Is now a dominant
factor in the politics of the world.
That Is glory and responsibility
enough. But the success of these
negotiations makes our country more
than that. 1t is now a dominant fac
tor for the good of the world. Here
after she must be taken into the cal
culations of every nation which
makes treaties. Her strength is to
be potent influence in keeping the
relations of all the nations true to
the best standards of government
With America looking on and her
power at the command of a man like
Roosevelt, the Netherlands can never
be made another Poland, or the Bal
III PShiuSuidS US Swallowed ike as
many Finlands
The natural inclination at this
time among Americans would be to
speak of this result with restraint
They would prefer .::::ss, the en-
comiums on the Presidents great
service should be pronounced by
other nations. But ii is important
that we should know our responsible
ties. and in this case, and every case,
1t is essential 10 that knowledge that
We see all our national acts in their
full effect. 1t is not a sense of self
glory that impresses the President
today. That is certain. But undoubt,
edly he rejoices. and the nation has
abundant warrant for rejoicing with
him, that the power of the American
people has been proven and that its
influence has been exerted for the
worlds lasting good.