The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1906-12-08

a.alIAn8oments Tor the conference to
the governing board or the Bureau of
american Republics, composed Of the
representatives Of all the American
nations In Washington. The board
discharged the duty imposed upon Il
with marked fidelity and painstaking
care, and upon the courteous invita-
ton OF the United States of Brazil.
the conference was held at Rio de-
Janeiro, continuing from the GARD Of
July to the 18th Of August last. MANY
subjects of common interest To All
the American nations were discussed
by the conference, and the conclusions
reached, embodied in a series Of reso.
buttons and proposed conventions. win
pc laid before you upon the coming
IN OF the final report of the American
delegates. They contain many mat
tiers OF importance relating to the ex-
tension OF trade, the smoothing away
OF barriers to free intercourse, and the
promotion OF better knowledge and
good understanding between the diff
ferent countries represented. The
meetings of the conference were har-
monious and the conclusions were
reached with substantial unanimity.
1t Is interesting to observe that In the
successive conferences which have
been held the representatives Of the
different American nations have been
learning to work together effectively,
for, while the first conference in WASH
ington in 1889, and the second confer
ence in Mexico in 1902, occupied
many months, with much time wasted
in an unregulated and fruitless dis
cussion, the third conference at Rio
exhibited much of the facility In the
practical dispatch of business which
permanent deliberative
bodies and completed it's labors within
the period Of six weeks originally al
lotted for its session.
l have just returned from trip
to Panama and shall report to you at
length later on the whole subject of
the Panama canal.
Hague Conference.
In my last message I advised you
that the emperor of Russia had taken
the initiative in bringing about Sec
ond peace conference at The Hague.
Under the guidance of Russian the
Of the preliminaries for
such a conference has been progress
ing 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. It Is matter of satisfac-
ton that all of the American repub-
lies have now, for the first time, been
invited to join in the proposed confer
ence.
It must be kept in mind that war
is not merely justifable, but imper-
alive, upon honorable men, upon an
honorable nation, where peace can
only be obtained by the sacrifice OF
conviction or of national
welfare.
Strength Of Navy.
The United States navy IL the sur
est guarantor of peace which this
country possesses. 1t is earnestly to
be wished that we would profit by tho
of history In this matter.
A strong and wise people will study
It's own failures no less than its tri-
umphs, for there il wisdom to be
learned from the study Of both, of the
mistake as well as Of the success. For
this purpose nothing could be more
than q rational study OF
war of 1872, as It is told, for instance,
by Capt. Mahan. There was only one
way in which that war could have
been avoided. If during the preced-
Ing twelve years navy relatively as
has had been built up, and an army
H.
which the country now has, there new
or would have been the slightest nee
essity of fighting the war; and II the
strong az that which this country now
necessity had arisen the war would
Under such circumstances have ended
with our speedy and overwhelming
But our people during those
.welve years refused to make and
whatever. regarding eth
.r the army or navy. They saved q
million or two of dollars by so doing;
md in mere money paid a hundred
old for each million they thus saved
Turing the three years OF war which
war which brought untold
suffering upon our people, which at
,ne time threatened the gravest ma
[1Onal OlS8SCOIs 8uu WAASAs - SRAS0
he necessity Of waging it, resulted
merely in what was in effect drawn
battle, while the balance OF defeat ana
was almost even.
/ do net ask that we continue 10
Increase our navy, ask merely that It
,e maintained at its present strength;
md this can be done only II we re-
,lace the obsolete and Outworn ships
by new and good ones. the equals OF
INV afioat in any navy. To stop build
ne ships for one year means that ior
hat wear the navy goes back instead
II forward.
= Must Shoot Straight
The congress has most wisely pro-
,ided for a national board for the pro-
notion Of rife practice. Excellent 70
.ultx have already come from TINS
an but it does not go far enough.
1nr regular army il 80 small that IN
NV treat war We should have 10
INST mainly to volunteers; and IN
rnch event these volunteers should AZ
,esdy know how to shoot; for Il z
,oldier has the lighting edge. and aoii-
q to take care Of himself IN the open.
IN eficiency ON the line Of battle y
,lmevt directly proportionate to excel.
.nca IN marksmanship. We should
,stablish shooting galleries In al inc
are public and military Schools.
4f = -