Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-06-12


honor we are for war; but on any other |
terms we are for peace. In Prepared |
ness" must, however lie our security. |
Our guest of this evening is a soldier !
by training and by campaigning, anl !
he was our delegate to the first Hague !
peace conference. Therefore no one
more competent than the chief of orI
nance to respond to the double sent |
ment
Gentlemen: | present "Preparci- |
ness as a Peace Promoter and call
upon General CrOZier.
General Crozier responded i'll part as
follows:
u have no doubt that Americans in
general are not chargeable with ne
glcct of all thought of preparation for
war, but it sometimes appears to those
who are endCavoring to force consider
alton of the subject of the preparation
for possible war in times of peace that
very many other things get in the way
of such consideration, and it may pos
sibly appear To us that the citizens of
the United States, engaged i'll impOr-
tant and interesting occupations. are
likely to store the recognition of the
possibilities of war in that portion OF
their conscience which they are not in
the habit of consulting in business
hours. The necessity for the prepare
ton of war depends upon other things,
upon the probability of the occurrence,
and as to the probability of the occur
renee of war il would be possible to
make an argument based upon the ma
turc of mankind; that man is fighting
animal. and. if he can not get what he
wants in any other way, he will fight for
it, but that argument is at least par
TALLY met by the counter one, that that
is true of individuals, but the COmmu-
mites have found it to their interest 10
establish other means of settling diff
| fcrcnccs than by fighting. 1t is intend
| cd that the way 10 settle it is to ar
range them before tribunal. which is
| convenient fUr the purpose and cOmpc-
tent. and which can make Il decision
based upon principles and upon law,
| and which does not depend upon the
fighting or physical power of one of the
contestants. This country went to war
with Spain for the purpose of termin-
lating the sovereignty of that nation
over the island Of Cuba. Now Spain )
great sovereignty in Cuba was as thor
oughly established as any principle Of
international law is established today,
| and had it been possible to carry that
case into a court of any kind, bound by
| its conscience and by its oath to decid"
the case in accordance with the GOV
crning principles of mankind. it would
have been impossible for that court to
lhaVC turned the island of Cuba over to
the United States. for annexation, hide
lpendcnce or any other disposition. If
1.-The result of that war was fortunate
one for the world. then the war aChicv-
ed a better result than it could have
been possible to achieve by law and by
arbitration. Now. another instance.
Not very many years ago the people Of
the north section of this country be
came convinced that slavery was wrOnI
land should not. therefore, be allowed ;
lpCople in another section of the COuu
try, nine millions in number, Were
lcqualIy determined and convinced thai
slavery was right and should be. The
Isupreme court of the United States had
decided that slaves were property and
as such would be taken into the new
TERRITORY Of the United States. and Wer,
lCnttlCd to protection. An accessory
lCaUse was the right of cessation from
the union. \ distinguished son of Mas
saChUsetts stated in confidence that a
the finish of this government that quc5
ton was not decided, was not intended
to he decided and would have been i'm
possible Of decision. Now, if that cas-,
could have been carried into court, tn,
decision in regard to slavery, if the su
prcme court was right, would have beer
different from that which was the re
turns of sword against sword agains
! which no man darcs raise his voice
The revolutionary war was tough
/ against the principles of taxation with
out representation. And if the cOlOnist
: would have taken their cause to an,
> tribunal of the British empire, il wOuit
of course have been impossible to haV
, obtained any such decree as they OF
tanned otherwise. Now. if the indeper
/ dcucc of these colonies was goo
} thing to have been established, here l
Il another case where war served the pu'
= pose, and decided matters which coul
o not have been so decided by arbitr,
" ton. Now, before going any further,
|