Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-04-16

world was better yesterday than the day
before better today than It was yester-
day. and, with the Lords blessing will be
better tomorrow than 1t is today Fighting
animal though man is, he realizes the ad-
Nantages Of peace and as the world grows
better he becomes more willing to hesitate
before sacrificing peace for war.
There is no government that Is not in
huenced by public opinion II governments
are TO be made to appreciate thoroughly
the advantages Of peace then the peoples
Its blessings II the nations sincerely de-
sire peace. there IL scarcely a difference
that can arise among them that cannot be
adjusted by peaceful arbitration.
Duty of Congress.
Your duty, as that OF everyone who
knows the difference between national honor
aud national land lust between true cour-
age and swash-buckling, is to convince
the world that man has a higher, nobler
mission than to be forever at his brothers
throat that war should be resorted to only
and oppression. The task which you have
set yourselves and which can be accom-
plished, is to cultivate a spirit of sober
common sense among men, a sense which
will cause them to think twice before going
to extremes and to hesitate before glorify
governments must bow Putting into prac-
tice their high sounding professions Of mu-
each others interests live in harmony. one
with another.
Letter of President.
President Roosevet's letter, read before
the congress, was as follows;
Ny Dear Mr.. Carnegie: 1 much regret
my inability TO be present with you. Mr..
Root viii speak to you at length and no
man In the country is better fitted than
he to address you on the subject you have
In this letter / can do little more than
wish you and your association Godspeed
purposes you have at heart is both strong
and real, and by right OF II l shall make
60 you some suggestions as to the practice!
hnH nfs mil anA mi ha VA al
OF US have in view. First and foremost,
beseech you TO remember that, though II
II is even more our. duty TO work for
righteousness and justice. 1t Is righteous
ness that eSalteth a nation" and, though
normally peace Is the handmade Of right
eousness. yet If they are ever at odds, It
is righteousness whose cause we must
espouse In the second place, 1 again
earnestly ask that all good and earnest
men who believe strongly In the cause, but
who have not themselves to bear the re
honor shall not. by Insisting on the i'm,
possible, put off the day when the possible
can be accomplished.
Caution About Disarmament.
The peoples OF the world have advanced
unequhlly along the road that leads to
justice and fair dealing, but the road
stretches far ahead even Of the most ad-
II the most advanced nations should. by
agreement disarm and place themselves
at the mercy OF other peoples less ad-
vanced Finally, It behooves ali of us 10
remember. and especially those of us who
either make or listen to speeches. that
there are few more mischievous things
than the custom OF uttering or Rpplauding
sentiments which represent mere Oratory,
and which are not, and cannot be and have
not BEEN translated from words into deeds
An impassiOned Grafton about peace,
which includes an impassiOned demand for
something which the man who makes the
demand either knows or ought 20 know
cannot. as a matter OF fact, be done, rep
resents not gain, but loss for the cause
or peace; for even the nohlest cause is
marred by advocacy which is either in
Can tor sane Action.
These warnings that l have uttered do
not mean that l believe that we can do
nothing to advance the cause Of interna-
tionRi peace. On the contrary, l believe
that We can do much to advance It, only we
must act with sanity. with self restraint
with power, which must be the prime quail.
ties IN the achievement Of any reform The
nineteenth century saw, on the whole, a
real ana great advance In the standard Of
international conduct among civilized ma
tons and strong nations toward more
The twentieth century will. 1 believe, wit
ness q greater advance In the same direc-
ton. The United States has a right to
AJAX that its course during the half dozen
open years OF the century be accepted as
During these six years we can consoien-
uously say that without sacrificing our own
rights We have yet scrupulously respected
the rights OF all other peoples. with the
IN Europe and in that newest Asia which
IN the Oldest We have preserved a mutually
self respecting and kindly friendship. In the
Philippine islands we are training a people In
the difficult art OF self-government with
more success than those best acquainted
with the facts had dared to hope We are
doing this because We have acted In a
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