The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1906-09-06
mr.. Bryan's Speech In new York

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may present higher ideal than has ever before
been embodied in a national life and carry human
progress to a higher plane than it has before
reached
II desire, moreover, to acknowledge indebt-
edness to the American officials who have every
where shown us all possible courtesy and kind
ness | do not know that can better show my
appreciation of the welcome accorded me by my
countrymen than to submit suggestions
drawn from observations during the past year.
"A Japanese educator, addressing me through
an interpreter said: wish you would find the
the worst thing in Japan and tell us about it SO
that we may correct it. / commended the gen.
erous spirit which he manifested, but assured
him. that had not visited Japan in search of
faults and blemishes, but rather that ] might find
the best things in Japan and take them home for
the benefit of my own people. Each nation can
give lessons to every other, and while our nation
is in position to make the largest contribution,
l believe, to the education of the world, it
ought to remain in the attitude of a pupil and be
ever ready to profit by the experience of others.
"The first message that bring from the old
world is a message of peace. The cause OF arbi-
tration is making real progress in spite OF the
fact that the nations most prominent in the estab-
lishment of The Hague tribunal have themselves
been engaged in wars since that court was Or
ganized. There is a perceptibe growth in sent1
ment in favor of the settlement of international
disputes by peaceful means. 1t was my good for
tune to be present at the last session OF the Inter
parliamentary Union which convened in London
on the 23d of July. Twenty-six nations were rep
resented, and these included all the leading ma
tons of the world This peace congress, as 1t is
generally known, not only adopted resolutions in
favor of the limitation of ornaments and the
arbitration of all questions relating to debts, but
unanimously endorsed the proposition that all
questions of every nature should be submitted to
an impartial tribunal for investigation to the
mediation of friendly nations before hostities are
commenced.
"It is not necessary to point out the impor
lance of the position taken. The embodiment of
the suggestion in treaties would go long way
toward removing the probability of war. While
the idea is of American origin it was heartily ac
copied by the representatives of England, France
Germany and other European countries.
II believe that if our nation would propose to
make with every other nation treaty
providing that all questions in dispute
between the parties should be submitted
to The Hague court some other impartial
international tribunal for investigation and report
before any declaration of war Or commencement
of hostilities it would find many nations willing
to enter into such compact. am sure from the
public utterances of the present prime minister
of Great Britain, Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman
that such treaty could be made between the
two great English speaking nations and their
example would be followed until the danger Of
war would be almost if not entirely, removed
To take the lead in such movement would estab-
lsh position as world power in the best
of the term.
What. argument can be advanced against
such action the part of the United States?
Shall we yield to any other nation in the estimate
to be placed upon the value of human life? / con-
fess that my aversion to killing increases with
the years. Surely the Creator did not so plan the
universe as to make the progress of the race de-
pendent upon wholesale blood letting. | prefer
to believe that war; instead of being an agency
for good, is rather an evidence of mans surrender
to his passions, and that one of the tests of civ
ilization is mans willingness to submit his con-
troverses to the arbitration of reason rather than
of force.
Another subject connected with our foreign
relations: / venture to suggest that we may not
only promote peace but also advance our CONNER
cal interests by announcing national policy
that our navy will not be used for the collection
of private debts. While protecting the lives of
our citizens everywhere and guaranteeing