The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-10-02
TAFT'S MESSAGE IS
PROMISE OF PEACE
---------------
Secretary of War, in Address to
Japanese, Arouses En-
thusiasm.
NEITHER NATION SEEKS WAR
MIR. Taft Proclaims Boldly This
Country's Policy in
Philippines.
NEITHER NATION SEEKS WAR

AOA1O, OCtODer 4.---SeCEelAry OK W0S
Taft aroused the widest enthusiasm
of his speech at the banquet given In
his honor by the municipality OF
Toxic and Chamber OF Commerce. he
declared that war between the United |
states and japan would be a crime |
against modern civilization. and az
wicked as II would be insane, adding |
that neither people desired It, and
that both governments would do their
utmost to guard against such an awful
ca catastrophe. The Secretary spoke with
intense earnestness, after careful de.
liberation and preparation. The BAN
quet took place Ia the assembly room
OF the Imperial Hotel, Viscount Shibu.
sawa presiding, and was attended by
prominent officials and many Of the
leading business men OF Toxic. Mr..
| Taft sat on the right OF Viscount
Shibusawa ana Mr.. o'Brien, the new
American Ambassador to Japan, was
seated on his left. The decora lions OF
| the hall were magnificent, and good
band furnished the music. Among those
present were many ladies, including
| Americans. viscount Shibusawa In
welcoming Mr.. Taft paid glowing
! tribute to the great nation which the
! Secretary represented, the friendliness
i which the United States had always
displayed for japan and the influ-
ence which America exerted through.
4 out the world.
In replying Mr.. Taft spoke with deep
4 feeling and positiveness. He asserted
that the talk Of unfriendlyness between
the United States and Japan was due
4 entirely to the commercialism OF the
newspapers In America. The secretary
declined to- discuss the immigration
question: saying that he would not
trespass upon the field Of State De-
partment. Mr.. O'Brien would say that
the entire matter was easy OF senst-
BILE arrangement between sensible
men," II
Continuing, Mr.. Taft said: "Ameri-
cans will always be proud OF the part
President Roosevelt was able to play
: in Fastening the end Of the war and
bringing about peace under circum-
stances honorable to both Japan and
l Russia. Japan, having proved her
a greatness In war, has taken q stand In
: the first rank of the family OF ma.
: tions. You have concluded treaties
! with your former antagonist and the
wounds caused by the war are healed
n Both Nations Desire Pence.
s "why should Japan wish for war
j It must stop or seriously delay the exc
cution OF her plans for the reform o.
z Korea.
why should the United States wlsl
for war? 1t would change her In I
year or more into military nation
Her great resources would be wastel
in a vast equipment which woul'
serve no good purpose, but lwoul,
tempt the nation into warlike policies
Why should she wish for war, in which
all the evils Of society flourish and al
vultures fatten? She is engaged II
establishing government OF law an
order in the Philippines. fitting tnos
people by general education to COVER
themselves.
TT has been suggested that "
might relieve ourselves OF this burde
by the sale Of the islands to Japan o
some other country. The suggestion
is absurd. japan does not wish 70
the Philippine Islands; she has pro
blems Of asinilar nature nearer home
More than this, the United State
could not sell the islands to anothe
power without the grossest violation
of It's obligations to the Philippine peo
pie. Under all these circumstance
then could there be anything NOR
wicked, more Infamous than the sue
gestion OF war between the two ma
tions who have enjoyed such time
honored friendship, ana who hav
nothing to fight for?"
Audience In Enthusinstic,
Mr.. Teft's speech was greeted wit
enthusiastic applause. After the bar
quet the assembly room was the seen
OF a remarkable manifestation of GOO
will, everybody congratulating every
body else on what was considered
be complete removal&of the "litt
cloud" which had been hanging Owe
the fifty years of friendship betwee
the United States and Japan, and n
joicinE at the fact that hnal dampt
had been put upon sensational uttel
ances regarding the possibility {
strained relations between the tW
/ | countries