The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-12-05

NitAl ldIluttS ilduNf US SlnS not lew Nd= paeity for self-government does not come to man by nature IL is an art to be learned, and it is also an expression of character to be developed among all the thousands of men who exercise popular sovereignty.
 To reach the goal toward which we are pressing forward, the governing multi tude must first acquire knowledge that comes from universal education wisdom that follows practical experience per sonal Independence and self-respect be- fitting men who acknowledge no superior, self-control to replace that external con- trol which a democracy rejects, respect for law, obedience to the lawful expres slons of the public will. consideration for the opinions and interests of others equally entitled to a voice in the state, loyalty to that abstract conception-one's country-as aspiring that loyalty to personal soVereigns which has so Hum ined the pages of history, subordination of personal interests to the public good, love of justice and mercy of liberty and order All these We must seek by slow and patient effort; and of how many shortcomings in his own land and among his own people each one of us is con scous.
 Yet no student of our times can fail to see that not America alone but the whole civilized world is swinging away from its old governmental moorngs and intrustinS the fate of it's civilization to the capacity of the popular mass to govern. By this pathway mankind is to travel, whither- soever it leads Upon the success of this our great undertaking the hope of hu- manity depends.
 Nor can we fail to see that the world makes substantial progress towards more perfect popular self-government
 believe it to be true that, viewed against the background of conditions century a generation, a decade ago, gov ernment in my own country has advanced in the intelligent participation of the great mass of the people, in the ddeiity and honesty with which they are repre- scented, in respect for law, in obedience to the dictates of sound morality, and in effectiveness and purity of administra- tion.
 Nowhere in the world has this progress been more marked than in Latin Amer lea. out of the wreck of Indian fighting and race conflicts and civil wars, strong and stable governments have arisen Peaceful concession In accord with the peoples will has replaced the forcible seizure of power permitted by the peo- ple's will has replaced the foreible seiz- ure of power permitted by the peoples indifference. Loyalty to country, Its peace. it's dignity, it's honor, has arisen above partizanship for individual lead CTS. The rule of law supercedes the rule of man Property protected and the friuts of enterprise are secure. Individual liberty is respected. Continuous public policies are followed; national faith is held sacred Progress has not been equal everywhere. but there has been progress everywhere. The movement in the right direction is general. The right tendency is not exceptional; it is continental. The present affords just cause for satlsfac- ton; the future Is bright with hope.
 It is not by national isolation that these results have been accomplished, or that this progress can be continued. No nation can live unto itself alone and con tlnue to live. Each nations growth IS a part of the development of the race. There may be leaders and there may be laggards but no nation can long con tinue very far in advance of the gen eral progress of mankind and no nation that is not doomed to extinction can re- main very far behind. It Is with nations as it is with individual men; intercourse, association, correction of egotism by the influence of others judgment, broadening of views by the experience and thought of equals acceptance of moral standards of a community the desire for whose good opinion lends sanction to the rules of right conduct-these are the con ditions of growth in civilization peo-
  sons of the worlds progress, whose spirits are not stirred by the aspirations and the achievements of humanity strug- gling the world over for liberty and jus flee, must be left behind by civilization in It's steady and beneficent advance.
 To promote this mutual interchange and assistance between the American re- publics, engaged in the same great task, inspired by the same purpose, and pro- fessing the same principles, l understand to be the function of the American con ference now in session. There IS not one of all our countries that cannot benefit the others: there is not one that will not gain by the prosperity, the peace, the happiness of all.
 According to our programme no great and impressive single thing is to be done by you; no political questions are to be discussed; no controversies are to be set fled: no judgment is to be passed upon the conduct of any state; but many SUD tects are to be considered which aitord the possibility for removing barriers to intercourse; of ascertaining for the com mon benefit which advances have been made by each nation In knowledge, in eX- perience in enterprise, in the solution or difficult questions of government. and in ethical standards of perfecting our knowledge of each other; and of doing away with the misconceptions, the ms understandings, and the resultant preJu- dices that are such fruitful sources or controversy.
 And there are some subjects in the programn1e which invite discussion that nav lead the American republics towards an agreement upon principles. the general practical application of which can come only in the future through long and pa tient effort. Some advance at least may be made here towards the complete rule of Justice and peace among nations Tn lieu of force and war.
 The association of so many eminent men from all the republics, leaders or opinion in their own homes; the friend ships that will arise among you; the habit of temperate and kindly discussion of matters of common interest; the as certainment of common sympathies and aims; the dissipation of misunderstand- ings; tho exhibition to all the Afner1cah peoples of this peaceful and considerate method of conferring upon international auestions-this alone, quite irrespective of the resolutions you may adopt ana the you may sign, will mark n advance in the direction of good understanding.
 These bcnefcent results the government and the people of the United States or merica greatly desire. We wish for no victories but those of peace. for no ter ritory except our own for no sovereignty except the sovereignty over ourselves. We deem the independence and equal rights of the smallest and weakest mem Der of the family of nations entitled 10 as much respect as those of the greatest empire, and we deem the observance ot that re spect the chief guaranty of the weak against the oppression of the strong. We neither claim nor desire any rfohts or urivileres or powers that we