The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1908-10-01
Mr.. TAFTs PEACE
SPEECH IN JAPAN

Mr.. Tafts famous peace speech, !.
which summarily quelled all talk Of
war between the United States and
Japan, was delivered in Toxic on
Monday evening, September 80, Of
last year. The occasion was q ban
iquet in his honor, the hosts being the
municipality of Toxic and the Cham
her OF Commerce of the city. The
labor troubles on the Pacific Coast,
which bred persisten rumors OF Inn
pending hostilities, would have been
dismissed by Mr.. Taft In his speech
with little more than q passing refer
ence II. indeed. he alluded at all to-
the subject. His plans were changed
almost on an instant the morning Of
the banquet. His attention was di-i
rected to q cable dispatch in the local
newspapers, stating cireumstantially
that our State Department was weary
of the diplomatic hectoring Of ia
pan" and was about to deliver to the
Emperor an ultimatum. This could
scarcely spell other than war. or a
backdown by Japan. Mr.. Taft PEI
rused the dispatch carefully and
quickly formulated what seemed to-
him the proper course to pursue. He
devoted the remainder Of the day to
a preparation Of the speech. Compar-
ing Its brevity with the amount OF
time and thought he expended on It
one may readily appreciate the meas
iure of Importance with which Mr..
Taft regarded what he was going to
say. Everything presaged that the
japanese would receive Mr.. Taft's
speech as they did. No representa-
tive of the United States Government
upon whom might have devolved the
duty OF so frankly discussing the deli
cate subject OF war between the two
countries would have been accorded
more respectful hearing than Mr..
Taft. Neither was there another
American in whose integrity Of pur-
pose and depth Of honesty, with the
will and the ability to utter the truth
as he saw 1t, did the Japanese repose
as complete confidence as they did In
Mr.. Taft. He was charged with no
official message to the Japanese. He
merely took It upon himself as SEN
sib1e man, and in the light OF a patri-
otto duty to both countries. to do
what he could personally to put
stop to that nonsense as he pri-
yately termed It. In part Mr.. Taft
said:
w ipSIWSOh JdpdA anu Tie UuI.
ted States would be crime against
modern civilization. It would be as
wicked as It would be insane. Neith-
er the people of the United States nor
the people Of Japan desire war. The
Governments of both countries would
strain every point to avoid such an
awful catastrophe. What has Japan
to gain by It? What has the United
States to gain by it? Japan has
reached that point in her history
where she Is looking forward with
confident hope to great commercial
conquest. She is shaking of the eff
fects of war and Is straining every
nerve for victories OF peace.
why should the United States
wish war? War would change her
in year or more into military ma
ton, and her great resources would
be wasted In vast equipment that
would serve no good purpose, but to-
tempt her to warlike policies. In the
last decade she has shown a material
progress greater than the world mas
ever before seen.
To-day she Is struggling with the
abuses which accompany such mate |
rial development, and Is engaged inI
an effort by process of law to retain |
the good for her people and to sun.
press the evil. Why should she wish |
war, in which all the evils of society |
flourish and on which all the vultures
fatten?
"she Is engaged In establishing
of law, order and pros
perity in the Philippine Islands and |
In fitting the people of those islands
by general education and actual prac-