The Monticellonian., 1906-09-06

nationai pride has been increased because of abundant evidence l have seen or the altruistie interest taken by Americans Tn the people of other countries. No other nation can show such a record of heneNo- fence and dislnterested friendship. My love for our form of government has been auickened as I have visited castles and towers and peered into dark dungeons, and I am glad that our nation. profting by the experience of the past, and yet unhampeIed by traditions. and unfettered by caste, has been permitted to form a new center of civilization on new soil. ana erect here government of the people, by the people. and also for the people
 also return more deeply impressed than ever before with the responsibility which rests upon our nation as an ex- emplar among the nations and more so- iicitous that we. avoiding the causes which have led other nations to decay, may present a higher ideal than has ever before been embodied in a national life, and carry human progress to higher plane than 1t has before reached
 1 desire. moreover. to acknowledge in- debtedness to the American officials who have everywhere shown us all possible courtesy and kindness.
 do not know that I can do better to show my appreciation Of the welcome ac- corded me by my eountrymen, than to servations during the past year Japan ese educator, addressing me through an interpreter, said T wish you would find the worst thing in Japan and tell us about it so that We may correct IL com mended the generous spirit which he man
 
 visited Japan in search of faults and blemishes. 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 posi- tion to make the largest contribution. as ought to remain in the attitude of pupil. and be ever ready to profit by the ex- perience of others.
 Message From the Old World.
 mn I from old world is a message of peace. The cause of arbitration is making real prog ress in spite of the fact that the nations most prominent in the establishment of The Hague tribunal have themselves been engaged in war since that court was or ganiZed. There is a pereeptible growth Tn sentiment in favor of the settlement of international disputes by peaceful means. Ii was my good fortune to be present at the last session of the interpariamentary union which convened in London on the 23d of July. Twenty-siX nations were rep resented. and these included all the lead ing nations of the world. This peace con gress as it Is generally known. not only adopted resolutions in favor of the limita- ton of armaments. and the arbitration of all questions relating to debts. but unani- mously indorsed the proposition that all questions of every nature should be sub mitted to an impartial tribunal for inves tigation or to the mediation of friendly nations before hostiltties are commenced. It is not necessary to point out the i'm portance of the position taken. line em> bodiment of the suggestion in treaties would go q long way toward removing the probability of war. While the idea is of American origin. II was heartily accepted by the representatives of England. France, Germany and other European countries. l believe that if our nation would propCse to make with every nation treaty providing that all questions in displre between the parties should be submitted to The Hague court or te some other impartial international tribunal for investigation and report, before any decla- ration of war or commencement of hes tility, it would ind many nations willing to enter into such compact l am sure from the public utterances of the present prime minister of Great Britain. Sir Hem " Campbell Bannerman. that such a treaty could be made between the two great English speaking nations. ahd their example would be followed until the dan ger of war would be almost if not en- tirely. 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 te ad- vanced against such action on the part Of the United States Shall We yield to any other nation in the estimate to De Surely the Creator did not plan the universe as to make the progress of the race dependent upon wholesale blood let ting. l prefer to believe that war insteau5 of being an agency for good. Is rather an evidence of mans surrender to his pas sions, and that one of the tests of civiliza- tion and mans willingness to submit his controversies to the arbitrament of req son rather than of force.
 The Navy as a Collector.
 Another subject eoune cted with our for eign relations l venture to suggest that we may not only promote peace. but also advance our commercial interests, by an nouncing as a national policy that our navy will not be used for the collection of private debts. While protecting the lives of our citizens everywhere, and guaran- teeins the personal safety of all who owe allegiance to our flag, should in my judgment, announce that persons engag Ing in business and holding property in other lands for business purposes must be subject to the laws of the countries in which they engage in business enter prises. Many profitable fields of invest ment are now closed because the people of the smaller nations are afraid that an investment of foreign capital will be msde an excuse for a foreign invasion Several times on this trip this fact has been brought to my attention. and l am con vinced that for every dollar that we could secure to American investors by an at tempt to put the government back of their private claims, we would lose many dol fars by closing the door to investment Mark the distinction between the protec- tion of the lives of our citizens and the use of the navy to guarantee a profit on investments. We do not imprison for put men to death because of the failure to pay what they owe, and our moral pres tige as well our commercial inter- stS will be conserved by assuring all nations that American investments depend for protection on the laws of the country to which the investors go.
 Our Experiment in Coloniasm
 Before leaving international politics, let me add that our nation has lost prestige, rather than gained it, by our experiment. sn colonialism. We have given the mon archist a chance to ridicule our declara- tion of independence, and the scoffer has twitted us with the Inconsistency. tour through the Philippine islands has deep ened the conviction that We should lose no time in announcing our purpose to deal with the Filipinos as We deal with the (,uhans Every consideration, commercial and politiCal leads to this conclusion. Such ground We may need for cOalng stations or for naval base will be gladly conceded by the Filipinos, who simply de- sire an opportunity to work out their aided by our advice. In so far as our efforts have been directed toward the education of the Filipincs. we have rem dered thf m a distinct service. but in edu eating them we must recognize that We are making colonialism impossible. If We would not dare to educate them. Self government. with ultimate independence, must be assumed if we contemplate uni versal education in the Philippines. As soon as opportunity offers. l shall discuss the Philippine question more at length. and l shall also refer to English rule in India. for It throws light upon our rrob- lems in the Philippines. but these sGb- 1ects must be reserved until I can speak more in detail
 Our Goverr nent Compared to Others.
 In several of the nations in Europe the executive department is more responsive to public sentiment than is our con the ministry is formed frc-n the dominant party. when an election is held upon any independent issue the gov .nuent ..-o- ceeds to put into law the will Of he