The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-08-31

Il desire, moreover, to acknowledge
indebtedness to the American officials
who have everywhere shown us all
possible courtesy and kindness.
Il do not know that I can better
show my appreciation Of the welcome
accorded me by my cOuntrymen than
to submit some suggestions drawn
from observations during the past
year. Japanese educator, address,
ing me through an interpreter, said:
' wish you would find the worst
thing in Japan and tell us about 1t so
that we may correct it
Il commended the generous spirit
which he manifested. but assured him
that I had not visited Japan in search
Of faults, but rather that I 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
a position to make the largest contri-
button, as I believe, to the education
Of the world, 1t ought to remain in
the attitude of a pupil and be ever
ready to profit by the experience of
others.
Work Of Peace Congress.
''The first message that I bring from
the Old World is a message of peace.
The cause of arbitration 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 organized. There is a
preceptible growth in sentiment in IA
vor of the settlement of international
disputes by peaceful means.
1T was my good fortune to be present
at the last session of the Interparlia-
meutary Union which convened in Lon
don on the 23d Of July. Twenty-six ma
tions were represented and these includ-
ed all the leading nations of the world.
This If Is ennAT3llV
known, not only adopted resolutions in
favor Of the limitation of armaments
and the arbitration of all questions re-
lating to debts, but unanimously in
dorsed the proposition that all questions
of every nature should be submitted to
an impartial tribunal for investigation,
OF to the mediation of friendly nations
before hOstilities are commenced.
SIT is not necessary to point out the
Importance Of the position taken. The
embodiment Of the suggestion in
treaties would be a long way toward
removing the probability of war While
the idea is of American origin it is
heartily accepted by the representatives
Of England, France. Germany and other
European countries I believe if our
nation would propose to make with eV
cry other nation treaty providing that
all questions in dispute between the
parties should be submitted to The
Hague court or 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 en-
ter into such a compact.
IT am sure from the public utterances
of the present prime minister of Great
Britain. Sir Henry Campbell Banner
man, that such treaty could be made
between the two great English speak
ing 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 a movement would
establish our position as a world power
IN the best sense of the term. And what
argument can be advanced against such
action on the part of the United States2
Shall we yield to any other nation in
the estimate to be placed upon the val
ue of human life?
Il confess that my aversion to kill
ing increases with the years. Surely
the Creator did not so plan the uni
verse as to make the progress of the
race dependent upon wholesale blood
letting. I 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 civilization is mans willing
ness to submit his controversies to the
arbitrament of reason rather than of
force.
Federal collection of Private Debts.
In connection with our foreign re-
latOns I venture to suggest that we
may not only promote peace but also
advance our commercial interests, by
announcing as a national policy that
our navy Will not be used for the col
lection of private debts. While pro
tecting the lives of our citizens every
where, and guaranteeing the personal
safety of all who owe allegiance to our
flag. we should, in my Judgment, an
nOunce that persons engaging In bust
ness and holding property in other
lands for business purposes must be
subject to the laws Of the countries in
which they engage in buiness enter
prises.
Many profitable fields of investment
are now closed because the people Of
the smaller nations are afraid that an
Investment of foreign capital will be
made an excuse for foreign invasion.
Several times on this trip this fact has
been brought to my attention, and I
am convinced that for every dollar we
could secure to American investors by
an attempt to put the government
back Of their private claims, we would
lose many dollars by closing the door
of investment.
Mark the distinction between the
protection Of the lives of our citizens
and the use of the navy to guarantee a
profit on investm ents. We do not i'm
prison for debt IN the United States,
neither do We put men to death be
cause Of their failure to pay what they
owe and our moral prestige as well as
our commercial interests will be con-
served by assuring all nations that
American investments depend for pro-
lection upon the laws of the country
to which the investors go.
"a tour through the Philippine
islands has deepened the conviction
that we should lose no time in an
nouncing our purpose to deal with the
E1lipinOs as we dealt with the Cubans.
Every consideration, commercial and
political leads to this conclusion. Such
ground as we may need for coaIing
stations or for a naval base will be
gladly conceded by the FiIfpinos who
simply desire an opportunity to work
out their own destiny, inspired with
our example and aided by our advice.
Insofar as our efforts have been di-
rected toward the education of the
Filipinos, we have rendered them
distinct service. but in educating them
we must recognize that we are making
colonialfsm impossible. If we intended