Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-30

With one accord men of all nations are
today applauding President Roosevelt as
the great peacemaker. They are praising
his initiative, his persistence in the face of
encouragement and his disregard for the
precedents to the end that the war might
be brought honorably to close. There Is
no divergence from the opinion that but for
him there would probably have been a rup-
ture at Portsmouth, total failure of the
negotiations.
When all the others powers stood aloof
after the crushing naval defeat of Russia,
fearing to propose peace negotiations lest
there might be- distrust of their motives,
the United States alone found itself in a
position to offer it's good offices without
giving offense to either belligerent or sug-
costing to the great neutrals Interior mo-
tives the part of this country. And of
all men Theodore Roosevelt was the one
to step into the breach, to venture where
less conservative statesmen might hesitate
to tread. Vigorous in all things. he was
especially vigorous in this departure. He
managed the situation with rare tact and
yet with firmness of purpose that brought
results.
1t was one thing to persuade Japan and
Russia to send ENJOYS to a peace confer
ence. and another thing to get them to
agree. The negotiations. 1t is now an open
secret, were not confined to the proceedings
at Portsmouth. Representatives of both
Russia and Japan waited on the President
at Oyster Bay while the formal conference
was constructively in session. At the
Presidents summer home were discussed.
first with one side and then with the other.
the chief difficulties in the way of an agree
ment. 1t was finally made plain to Japan
that the world expected that peace should
be arranged. Just what representations
were made to the mikado, through Baron
kaneko, are not yet disclosed. But 1t is
accepted on all sides that the influence of
the United States was strongly exerted to
persuade the japanese emperor to waive
the indemnity, not for the sake of a make
shift peace. but to establish Japan as one
of the truly great powers, great In magma
nimity as well as in war making.
The role of the peacemaker does not i'll
befit Mr.. Roosevelt. however his tempera-
ment may In the past have lent itself to
acts of war, TO strenuous deeds, to intense
physical activity He is consistent advo-
cate of peace, believer in war prepared
ness as the surest means of preserving
peace and sincere exponent of the doc
trine that If war must come it is best waged
that he tights best who fights to win. There
is nothing irreconcilable in these phases of
Theodore Roosevelt's character. He stands
for progress. for civilization.
Just how far Mr.. Roosevelt's personality
was a factor in this adjustment 1t is DIFF
ficult to determine. His position as Pres-
dent of the United States was OF course the
paramount element That gave him his
great prestige. AS private citizen he
could have done nothing. But the combina-
ton OF the Office and the man made for
success The situation called for just that
blend of the official and the urgent. the
formal and the informal And it may not
be doubted that the Presidents intense de-
sire for peace, as voiced by him in his hap
PLY worded toast at the luncheon on the
Mayfiower, was brought to the fruitlon of
yesterdays achievement largely by reason
of his unconventionality. his disregard for
the hampering traditions that have in the
past unquestiona bsy cost the world dearly
in blood and treasure.