The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-12-05

seal nerd, ana negotiations with Japan for the same purpose are in progress.
 The laws for the protection of the seals within the Jurisdiction of the United States need revision and amsnd- ment Only the islands of St Paul and St, George are now, in terms. included in the Government reservation, and the other islands are also to be included. The landing of aliens as well as clti- gems upon the islands. without permit from the Department of Commerce and Labor. for any purpose except in case of weather or for water, should be pro hibited under adequate penalties. The approach of vessels for the excepted purposes should be regulated. The au- thority of the Government agents on the islands should be enlarged, and the chief agent should have powers If a. committing magistrate. The entrance of a vessel into the territorial waters surrounding the islands with intent to take seals should he made crin- inal offense and cause of forfeiture. Authority for seizures in such cases should be giver and the presence on any vessel of seals or sealskins, or the paraphernalia for taking them. should be made prtma faeie evidence of such intent. l recommend what leg islation is needed to accomplish these ends; and l commend to your atten- ton the report of Mir. Sims, of the De- partment of Commerce and Labor, on this subject
 In case we are compelled to atandon the hope of making arrangements with other governments to put an end to the hideous cruelty now incident 70 pelagic sealing, it will be a question for your serious consideration how far we should continue to protect ana maintain the seal herd on land with the result of continuing such prac~ tice, and whether it is not better to end the practise by exterminating the herd ourselves in the most humane way possible.
 In my last message l advised you that the Emperor of Russia had taken the Initiative in bringing about second peace conference at The Hague.
 Under the guidance of Russia the ar- engagement of the preliminaries for such a conference has been progressing during the past year. Progress has great number of countries to be con suited upon every question that has arisen. It IS a matter of satisfaction that all of the American Republics have now, for the first time, been in- vited to join in the proposed confer
 The close connection between the subjects to be taken up by the Red Cross Conference held at Geneva last
 summer, and the subjects which na' turally would come before The Hague Conference, made 1t apparent that It was desirable to have the work of the Red Cross Conference completed and considered by the different powers be, fore the meeting at The Hague. The Red Cross Conference ended it's labors on the 9th day of July. and the revised and amended convention, which was signed by the American delegates, will be promptly laid before the Senate.
 By special and highly appreciated courtesy of the Governments of Rus call The Hague Conference together at a time which would conflict with the Conference of the American Re- publics at Rio de Janerio in August
 was laid aside. No other date has yet been suggested A tentative program for the conference has been proposed by the Government of Russia, and the subjects which 1t enumerates are un, dergoing careful examination ard consideration in preparation for the
 Peace and Righteousness.
 It must ever be kept in mind that war is not merely justifiabie, but im- perative, upon honorable men, upon an honorable nation, where peace can only be obtained by the sacrifice or conscientious convection or of national welfare. Peace is normally great good, and normally 1t coincides with Righteousness; but it is righteousness and not peace which should bind the conscience of a nation as 1t should bind the conscience of an individual; and neither a nation nor an tndiNiuuaL can surrender conscience to anothers keeping. Neither can nation, which is an entity, and which does not die as individuals die, refrain from taking thought for the interest of the gener- ations that are to come, no less than for inc interest of the generation of today; and no public men have right, whether from shortsightsdness, from selfish indifference, or from sentiment ality, to sacrifice national interests which are vital in character. A just war is in the lGng run far better for a nations soul than the most prosper ous peace obtained by acquiescence n m Is criminal for nation not to prepare far War,so that 1t may escape the dread full consequences of being defeated in war,yet 1t must always De rememDersa that even to be defeated in war may be for better than not to have fought at all. As has been well and finely sald. beaten nation is not necessarily a dls- graced nation; but the nation or man is disgraced if the obligation to defend right is shirked.
 We should as a nation do everything in our power for the cause Of honor able peace. It Is morally as indefens- fble for a nation to commit wrong ipon another nation, strong or weak, as for an individual thus to wrong his fellows. We should do all in our pow, CT to hasten the day when there snail be peace among the nations-a peace based upon justice and not upon cow ardIy submission to wrong. we can accomplish a good deal m thls aeV, 1irec- thing, and the penalty Of attemptlnS to do too much would almost 1neVit' ably be to do worse than nothing, TOT 1t must be remembered that Iahtastlc extremists are not in reality leaders of the causes which they espouse, put are ordinarily those who do most to hamper the real leaders Of the cause and to damage the cause ttselr. As yet there is no likelihood of establish ing any kind of international power of whatever sort. which can effectiVe- ly check Wrongdoing, and in these 1t would be both roollsh and an evil thing for a great and rree nation to deprive itself of the power 10 protect it's own rights and even in exceptional cases to stand up TOT the rights of others. Nothing would more promote iniquity. nothing would tufS ther defer the reign upon earth or free and enlightened peoples which, though with much stumbling and many nevertheless strive to- ward justice. deliberately to repder themselves powerless while Ieavlng every despotism and barbarism armed and able to work their wicked will. The chance for the settlement of dis. putes peacefully, by arbitration. now depends mainly upon the possession by the nations that mean to do right of sufficient armed strength 10 nahS their purpose effective.
 The Navy and Army.
 The United States Navy Is the surest guarantor of peace this country pos It Is earnestly to be wished that we would profif by tho teachings Of history in this matter. A strong and wise people will study its own fail ures no less than its triumphs, for there is wisdom to be learned from the study of both, of the mistake as well as of the success. For this pur pose nothing could be more instructive than 8 rational study of the war Of 1872. as it is told for instance by Captain Mahan. There was only one
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