The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-12-05
AMERICA 5 PART
IN WORLD PEACE
Roosevelt Deals with Hague Con.
ference and Measures Against
Wars.

81 The first. conference of nations held
at The Hague in 1899, being unable to
dispose Of all the business before it,
recommended the consideration and set
Element OF a number Of important ques-
lions II, by another conference to be called
These questions were the following: az
The rights and duties of neutrals; (2)
the limitation of the armed forces on
land and sea, and Of military budgets;
~ the use of new types and calibers of
military and naval guns; (4) the in
vlolablllty OF private property at sea in
times Of war; 60 the bombardment Of
ports, cities and villages by naval
forces. In October, 1904, at: the instance
of the Interparliamentary union, which.
at conference held in the United
States and attended by the lawmakers
OF fifteen different nations, had reiter-
ated the demand for second confer
ence OF nations, I issued invitations to
all the powers signatory to The Hague
convention to send delegates to such a
conference and suggested that it be
again held at The Hague. In its note
OF Dec. l6, 1904, the United States gov
eminent communicated to, the represen-
t 7: OF foreign governments its be-
lief that the conference could be best
arranged under. the provisions Of the
present Hague treaty. ~
From all the powers acceptance was
received, coupled in some cases with the
condition that we should wait until the
end OF the war then waging between
Russia and Japan. The emperor of Rms
STA, Immediately after the treaty OF
peace. which so happily terminated this
war, IN a note presented to the president
on Sept. -, thru Ami AMBASSADOR Rosen
took the initiative in recommend ine
that the conference be now called. The
! United States government in response
| expressed it's cordial acouiescence ani
stated that it would, as a matter O:
course, take part in the new conference,
and endeavor to further it's aims. w,
assume that all civilized governments
will support the movement, and that til,
conference is now an assured fact. Thi
government will do everything in it
power to. secure the success of the con
ference to the end that substantial prog
ress may be made in the cause of in
ternational peace, Justice, and good will
>. Americas Attitude. ,.
This renders it proper at this time t
say something as to the general attitud
OF this government toward peace. Nor
and more war is coming to be locke
upon as in itself a lamentable and ev
thing. A wanton. or useless war, or
war of mere aggression-in short, an
| war begun or carried on in a conscience
less spirit, is to be condemned as a pt
culiar}y atrocious crime against all hi
mainly. We can, however, do nothin
of permanent value for peace ~unles
1--we keep ever clearly in mind the ethic;
element which lies at the root Of til
problem. Our. aim is Righteousness
Peace is normally the handmaiden {
righteousness; but when peace an
righteousness conflict, then a gres
and upright people can = never l for q M
even tho that path also leads |
,, war. There are persons who a,
vocate peace at any price; there a.
: others who, following a. false analog
think that because it is no longer nece
, sary in civilized countries for indiyid
ais to protect their rights with a stro1
hand, it is therefore unnecessary f
! nations to be ready to defend the
rights. These persons would do irr
parable harm to. any nation TIL
' adopted their principles, and even as
(which they advocate by tending to re
Q der it absurd in the eyes Of sensible al
a patriotic men. There can be no wor
s s foe Of mankind in general, and Of
y own country in particular, than t.
/ demagog Of war, the man who in me
l. folly or to serve his own selfish en-
s continually rails at and abuses 9th
! nations, who seeks to excite his cou
J trymen against foreigners on insult
; Gent pretexts, who excites and i
:. flames perverse and aggressive n
}; tional vanity, and who may on occ
i sions wantonly bring on conflict b
e tween his nation and some other natio
o But there are demagogs of peace ju
u as there are demagogs of war, and
" any such movement as this for T.
n Hague conference it is essential not
l. be inisled by one set of extremists al
l. more than by the other. Whenever
a is possible for nation or an individu
e to work for real peace, assuredly it
Il II failure Of duty not 50 to strive, but
n war is necessary and righteous tn
s. either the man or the nation shrink
n from it forfeits all title to self-respe
q We have scant sympathy for the sen
le mentalist who breads oppression le
r than physical suffering, who would pl
le fer a shameful peace to the pain and t
II sometimes lamentablN necessary in
'd1 der to secure righteous peace. AS J
q, there is only partial and imperfect
~ alOgy between 1nJefnaIlOnal law ano
y ternal or municipal law, because the
z IS no sanction Of force for executing
former while there is in the case Of t
latter. The private citizen is protect
s, in his rights by the law, because the Il
ID rests in the last resort upon force I
m ercised thru the forms Of law. A m
ID does not have to defend his rights W
d. his own hand, because he can call UP
ID the police, upon the sheriff's posse, up
Of the militia, or in certain extreme ca
as upon the army, to defend him. T
O. there is no such sanction Of force .
re international law. At, present tn
be could be no greater calamity than
r. the free peoples, the enlightened, in
is pendent, and peace-loving peoples,
n disarm while yet leaving it open to q
Of barbarism or despotism to rem
o. armed. So long as the world is as
rk of iho.o ,noonlas who on the whole sta