Tonopah bonanza. [volume] (Butler City [i.e. Butler], Nev.) 1901-1909, 1906-12-08

- @ENN ~ 1A4 "a hAAS az
of Mexico a note in which the con
ference which is being held at Rio
expresses its satisfaction at the hap
Ply results of Their mediation for the
celebration of peace between the re-
lies Of Guatemala, Honduras and Sal
vador."
This affords an excellent example
of one way in which the influence
Of the United States can properly be
exercised for the benefit of the peo-
pies of the Western Hemisphere;
that is, by action taken in concert
with other American republics and
therefore free from those suspicious
and p~rejudiees which might attach
if the action were taken by one alone.
In this way it is possible to exercise
a powerful influence toward the sub
~stitution of considerate action in the
spirit of justice for the instruction
AIRY or international violence which
has hitherto been so great a hind
rance to the development of many of
our neighbors. Repeated examples
of united action by several or many
American republics in favor Of peace,
by urging cool and reasonable, in
stead OF excited and belligerent,
treatment of international controver-
sizes, can not fail to promote the
growth of a general public opinion
among the American nations which
will elevate the standards Of inter-
national action, strengthen the sense
Of international duty among govern
ments, and tell in favor of the peace
of mankind.
Second Hague Conference
In my last message l advised you
that the Emperor of Russia had TAX
en- the initiative in bringing about a
second peace conference at The
Hague. Under the guidance Of Rus
STA the arrangement Of the prelim-
inaries 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 consulted 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 nat
urally would come before The Hague
conference, made 1t apparent that II
was desirable to have the work Of
the Red Cross conference completed
and considered by the different pow
ORG hAFAwl Tho rnnat3nm ~ Tho
Hague. The Red Cross conference
ended its 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 the special and highly appre-
ciated courtesy of the government of
Russia and the Netherlands, a pro-
posal to call The Hague conference
together at a time which would con
lict with the conference of the Am
erican republics at Rio de Janeiro in
August was laid aside, No other date
has yet been suggested, A tentative
program 1or the conference has been
proposed by the government of Rus
STA, and the subjects which II emu
melates are undergoing careful eX-
animation and consideration in pre-
paration for the conference.
The Navy and Army
The United States navy is the sur
est qua antor of peace which this
country possesses It is earnestly TO
be wished that we would profit by the
teachings OF history In this matter.
A strong and wise people will study
its own failures no less than it's tri-
umphs. for there is wisdom 10 ha
learned rom the study of both. OF
the mistakes as well as Of the sue
cess, For this purpose nothing
could be more instructive than q "a
tional study Of the war of 1912, as
it is told, for instance, by Captain
Mahan. There was only one way In
which that war could have been
avoided. If during the preceding
twelve years a navy relatively as
strong as that which this country
now has had been built up, and an
army provided relatively as good as
that which the country now has,
there never would have been the
slightest necessity OF fighting the
war; and If tle necessity had arisen
the war would under such circum-
stances have ended with our speedy
and Overwhelming triumph. But our
people during those twelve years re-
fused to make any preparations
whatever, regarding either the army
or the navy. They saved a million
or two of dollars by so doing; and
in money paid a h~undredfold for
each million they thus saved during
the three years Of war which fol.
lowed-a war which brought UNFOLD
suffering upon u people, which, in
spite OF the necessity of waging 1t,
re g.ted merely in what was in ef-
feet a drawn battle. while the bal
an e Gf defeat and Triumph was al
most even.
! do not ask that We continue TO
increase Il navy. I ask merely that
it be maintained at its present
strength; and this can be done only
if we replace the obsolete and out
worn ships by new and good ones,
TIE equals of any ahoat in any navy.
TO stop building ships for one yea
means that for that year the navy