Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-12-04


Property is protected, and the fruits OF
enterprise are secure. Individual lib
erty Is respected. Continuous public
policies are followed. National faith Is
held sacred. Progress has not been
equal everywhere, but there has been
progress everywhere. The movement
in the right direction is general. The
right tendency is not exceptional; IL is
continental. The present affords just
cause for satisfaction; the future is
bright with hope.
1t Ia not by national isolation that
/ these results have been accomplished
or that this progress can be continued.
No nation can live unto itself alone
and continue to live. Each nations
growth is a part of the development
of the race. There may be leaders,
and there may be laggards, but no ma
ton can long continue very far In adj
vance of the general progress Of man.
kind, and no nation that is not doomed
to extinction can remain very far be-
hind. 1t is with nations as 1t is with
individual men. Intercourse, associa-
ton. correction OF egotism by the In
fuence of others Judgment, broadening
of views by the experience and thought
of equals, acceptance OF the moral
standards OF community the desire
for whose good opinion lends a sane
ton TO the rules of right conduct
these are the conditions OF growth in
civilization. A people whose minds
are not open TO the lessons of the
worlds progress, whose spirits are not
stirred by the aspirations and the
achievements of humanity struggling
the world over for liberty and justice.
must be left behind by civilization in its
steady and benefcent advance.
To promote this mutual interchange and
assistance between the American repub-
lies engaged in the same great task in
spired by the same purpose and profess
ing the same principles. 1 understand to
be the function OF the American confer
ence now in session. There is not one OF
all our countries that cannot beneht the
others There is not one that cannot re-
ceive benefit from the others. There is
not one that will not gain by the pros
perity. the peace. the happiness OF all.
According to your programme. no great
and Impressive single thing is 10 be done
by you. no political questions are to be
discussed. no controversies to be set
tied. no judgment is to be passed upon
the conduct of any state, but many sub
jects are to be considered which afford the
possibility of removing barriers to inter
course OF ascertaining for the common
benefit what advances have been made
by each nation in knowledge. I'm expert
ence. in enterprise, I'm the solution OF diff
ficult questions of government and in eth
zeal standards. of perfecting our knowI-
edge of each other and of doing away
with the misconceptions. the misunder-
standings and the resultant prejudlces
that are such fruitful sources of con-
troversy.
And there are some subjects in the pro-
gramme which invite discussion that may
lead the American republics toward an
agreement upon principles. the general
practical application OF which can come
only in the future through long and pa
tient effort. Some advance at least may
be made here toward the complete rule
of justice and peace among nations in
lieu of force and war.
The association OF so many eminent men
from all the republics. leaders OF opinion
in their own homes; the friendships that
will arise among you. the habit OF tenn
perate and kindly discussion OF matters
of common interest, the entertainment OF
common sympathies and aims. the dissi-
patton of Observation-Disclosures. the eKhibi-
tion TO all the American peoples OF this
peaceful and considerable method OF con-
ferring upon international questions-this
alone. quite irrespective of the resolu-
lions you may adopt and the conventions
you may sign. will mark a substantial
advance I'm the direction OF international
good understanding.
These beneheent results the government
and the people of the United States of
America greatly desire. We wish for no
victories but those of peace, for no terri
tory except our own, for no sovereignty
except the sovereignty over ourselves.
We deem the independence and equal
rights of the smallest and weakest mem
Der of the family Of nations entitled to
as much respect as those of the greatest
empire. and we deem the observance OF
that respect the chief guaranty OF the
weak against the oppression OF the
strong. We neither claim nor desire any
rights or privileges or powers that we
do not freely concede to every American
republic. We wish to increase our pros
perity. to expand our trade, to grow in
wealth. in wisdom and in spirit, but our
of the true way to accomplish
this is not to pull down others and profit
by their ruin, but to help all friends to
a common prosperity and a common
growth that we may all become greater
and stronger together.
Within a few months for the first time.
the recognized possessors Of every foot Of
soil upon the American continents can be
and / hope will be represented with the
acknowledged rights OF equal sovereign
states in the great world congress at The
Hague. This will be the worlds formal
and final acceptance of the declaration
that no part Of the American continents
IS 10 be deemed subject to colonization.
Let us pledge ourselves TO aid each other
N the full performance OF the duty TO
which that accepted declaration
implies, so that in time the weakest and
most unfortunate of our republics may
come 10 march with equal step by the
iide OF the strongest and more fortunate.
Let us help each other to show that for
III the races of men the liberty for which
We have fought and labored is the twin
lister OF justice and peace. Let us unite