The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1905-12-08

peace for which the most law abiding AM
gh-mlnded men must at times be willini
to fight. AS the world Is now, only tina
nation is equipped for peace that knows how
TO fight and that will not shrink from fight
ing II ever the conditions become such tina
war Is demanded In the name of the highes
morality
So much 1t is emphaticaIly necessary I,
say In order both that the position of tn,
United States may not be misunderstood
and that genuine effort to bring nearer thu
day of the peace of justice among the ma.
tons may not be hampered by a folly which
in striving to achieve the impossible, would
render 1t hopeless to attempt the achieve.
ment of the practical But while recognize
Ing most clearly all above set forth, it re.
mains our clear duty to strive In every prac-
ticable way to bring nearer the time when
the sword shall not be the arbter among
nations. AT present the practical thing to
do is to try to minimize the number of cases
in which it must be the arbiter, and to offer
at least to all civilized powers, some sub
stitute for war which will be available in
Very much can be done through another
| Hague conference in this direction, and
most earnestly urge that this nation do all
| in its power to try to further the movement
| and to make the result of the decisions of
| The Hague conference effective. / earnestly
| hope that the conference may be able to de-
| wise some way to make arbitration between
| nations the customary way Of settling inter-
|
| of cases, which should themselves be as
sharply defined and rigidly limited as the
| present governmental and social development
Of the world will permit. If possible, there
should be general arbitration treaty ne
| gotiated among all the nations represented
| at the conference. Neutral rights and prop
| erty should be protected at sea as they are
| protected on land. There should be an in
similar agreement defining contraband of
war.
During the last century there has been
a distinct diminution in the number Of wars
between the most civilized nations Inter
national relations have become closer, and
the development Of The Hague tribunal is not
only symptom of this growing closeness of
relationship, but is means by which the
growth can be furthered. Our aim should
be from time to time to take such steps as
may be possible toward creating something
like an organization Of the civilized nations,
because as the world becomes more highly
organized the need for navies and armies
will diminish. 1t is not possible to secure
anything like an immediate disarmament,
because it would first be necessary to settle
what peoples are on the whole menace to
the rest Of mankind, and to provide against
the disarmament of the rest being turned
into movement which would really chiefly
be possible to exercise some check upon
the tendency to swell indefinitely the budgets
for military expenditure. OF course such
an effort could succeed only II it did not
dlleulpl " w tOO duu IL IL were un-
dertaken in a spirit of sanity as far removed
as possible from a merely hysterical pseudo
philanthropy 1t is worth while pointing out
that since the end Of the Instruction in the
teal faith in the policy of disarmament by
reducing its little army third. But dis
armament can never be of prime Importance;
there is more need to get rid of the causes
of war than of the implements Of war.
have dwelt much on the dangers to be
avoided by steering clear of any mere foolish
sentlmentality because my wish for peace Is
so genuine and earnest; because have real
and great desire that this second Hague con-
ference may mark long stride forward in
the direction of securing the peace of justice
throughout the world No object is better
worthy the attention of enlightened states
manship than the establishment Of surer
method than now exists of securing justice
as between nations, both for the protection
Of the little nations and for the prevention
Of war between the big nations. To this aim
we should endeavor not only to avert blood
shed, but, above all, effectively to strengthen
the forces Of right. The Golden Rule should
be. and as the world grows in morality it
will be, the guiding rule of conduct among
nations as among individuals; though the
Golden Rule must not be construed, in fan
tastic manner, as forbdding the exercise Of
the police power. This mighty and free re-
public should ever deal with all other states,
great small, on a basis Of high honor,
respecting their rights as jealousy as it
safeguards its own.
Monroe Doctrine.
One of the most effective instruments for
peace is the Monroe Doctrine as it has been
and is being gradually developed by this ma
other policy could have been as efficient |
in promoting peace in the Western hemis-
phere and in giving to each nation thereon |
the chance to develop along its own lines. |
If we had refused 10 apply the doctrine to
changing conditions it would now be COM |
pletely outworn, would not meet any of the |
needs of the present day, and indeed would |
probably by this time have sunk into COM |
plete oblivion. 1t is useful at home, and is |
with recognition abroad because we |
have adapted our application of It to meet
the growing and changing needs Of the hem
isphere. When we announce a policy, such
as the Monroe Doctrine, we thereby COM
NIT ourselves to the consequences of the
policy, and those consequences from time to
a right and yet shirk the responsibility for
its exercise. Not only we, but all American
Republics who are benefited by the existence
Of the doctrine. must recognize the obliga-
tons each nation Is under as regards for
sign peoples no less than its duty to insist
upon its own rights.
That our rights and interests are deeply
in the maintenance Of the doc
trine is so clear as hardly to need argument.
This is especially true in view Of the con-
struction of the Panama canal. AS a mere
matter of self-defense we must exercise a
close watch over the approaches to this
canal: and this means that We must be thor
sea-
There are certain essential points which
must never be forgotten as regards the
IS a nation make it evident that we do not
intend to treat it in any shape or way as an
excuse for ACKNOWLEDGMENT on our part at the
expense of the republics to the south We
must recognize the fact that in some South
American countries there has been much sus-
oicion lest we should interpret the Monroe