Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1906-12-04
SECOND HAGUE CONFERENCE
We Should Encourage Peace and Be
Prepared for War.

Prepared for War.
In my last message advised you
that the emperor of Russia had taken
the initiative in bringing about q sec
ond peace conference at The Hague.
Under the guidance Of Russia the ar
rangement of the preliminaries for
such a conference has been progressing
during the past year. Progress has
necessarily been slow, owing to the
great number of countries to be con-
suited upon every question that has
arisen. 1t is a matter of satisfaction
that all of the American republics have
now, for the first time, been. invited to
join in the proposed conference.
The close connection between the
, subjects to be taken UP by the Red
Cross conference held at Geneva last
summer, and the subjects which
naturally would come before The
Hague conference, made 1t apparent
that 1T was desirable to have the work
OF the Red Cross conference conn
pleted and considered by the different
! powers before the meeting at The
Hague. The Red Cross conference
ended its labors on the 9Th day of
convention, which was signed by the
American delegates, will be promptly
laid before the senate.
BY the special and highly appre-
ciated courtesy of the governments of
Russia and the Netherlands, pro-
posal to call The Hague conference to-
gether at a time which would conflict
4 with the conference of the American
republics at Rio de Janeiro in August
was laid aside. No other date has vet
! 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 and con-
sideration in preparation for the con-
ference.
| Peace and righteousness.
It must ever be kept in mind that
i war Is not merely justifiable, but inn
peratiye, upon honorable men, upon
an honorable nation, where peace can
only be obtained by the sacrifice OF
conscientious conviction or of national
welfare Peace Is normally a great
good. and normally it comedies with
Righteousness; but 1t 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 individual
can surrender conscience to another's
keeping. Neither can a 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 thar
today; and no public men have a right
whether from shortsightedness, from
tality, to sacrifice national INTEREST,"
selfish indifference, or from sentiment
which are vital in character. A jus
war Is In the long run far better FOL
q nations soul than the most prosper.
Gus peace obtained by acquiescence II
wrong or injustice. Moreover. tho 1
Is criminal for a nation not to pre-
pare for war. SO that 1t may escap,
the dreadful consequences OF being de
feated in war. yet 1t must always b.
remembered that even to be defeate,
in war may be far better than not t
have fought at ALL As has been wei
and finely said, a beaten nation Is no
: necessarily disgraced nation; but tn
nation or man Is disgraced II the obli
, cation TO defend right is shirked.
| We should as a nation do everythin
in our power for the cause OF honor
} able peace. 1t Is morally as indefen
sible for a nation to commit a wron
! upon another nation, strong or veal
as for an individual thus to wrong hi
! fellows. We should do all In our pow
. er to hasten the day when there sha
. be peace among the nations-a peac
based upon justice and not upon COW
, ardly submission to wrong. We ca
accomplish a good deal In this diree
: ton. but we can not accomplish every
thing. and the penalty, of attemptin
D to do too much would almost inevita
bly, be to do worse than nothing: II
= I must be remembered that fantast
extremists are not in reality leader
of the causes which they espouse. b,
y are ordinarily those VINO do most
= hamper the real leaders of the eau,
le and to damage the cause itself !
y lyet theer Is no likelihood of establish
II ing any kind Of International powe
T. OF whatever sort, which can effective
70 check wrong doing, ana In these CT
+ cumstances 1t would be both a fooli
D. and an evil thing for great and fr
~ nation 10 deprive itself Of the pow
vi to protect its own rightS and even
RS lexceptionaf cases TO stand up for I
d rights of others. Nothing would mo
ed promote iniquity. nothing would fu