The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-04-13
THE WAY OF PEACE.

ready 10 SEFlke the NfSt QIenuef, nor IS IL
a country which will maintain the spe-
cious pretense that upon it rests the re-
sponsibility of maintaining by force the
peace of the world. (Applause) Our
chiefest distinctions are that we are in
the forefront Of modern civilization; that
ours are the triumphs of commerce. Of
industry, and Of science; that here, more
than anywhere else on the globe, we
have maintained the Importance of each
individual, and that we give respect and
reverence TO the teachings Of Christianity.
We have made peace between nations.
and the browning glory Of Theodore
Roosevelts career when the whole his
tory is written. will be that he brought
the warning nations of Japan and Russia
together. (Applause) You would have
to search with a microscope to find that
one battle ship or twenty battle ships had
anything to 90 with that magnificent
achievement in the cause of the world s
peace II was rather because Of a re-
lance upon his fairness. upon the justice
and disinterestedness of the American
people, factors which would have been
swept away If we had those ambitions
which belong to a country having a sreat
navy and seeking to dominate the nations
of the earth. (Applause)
The fundamental fallscy In all these
arguments is that in this day neither an
individual nor a nation is safe unless he
goes armed. Just exactly the contrary is
true. (Applause.)
Why is life worth living now? Why. It
is because a spirit OF humanity has so
come to possess the people that the weak
are protected alike with the strong. ZAP
plause) The cause of him who is wrong
ed is the strongest cause that can exist
under Heaven. When sympathy is aroused
It is a factor more potent than armies.
This is certainly true of the individual
Why is it that ehivalry gives such re-
spect to the tenderer sex? Because she
is weaker, because she is entitled to the
protection OK the stronger. Our sheltering
our protecting hand does not 60 out to
the Amazon; she does not need our pro-
lection, because she is strong enough
already. Oaughter) So it is with ma
tons. No nation can afford TO impose on
a weak people. The public opinion Of the
civilized world is stronger than the armies
and navies of the pr0udezt empire Gap
plause)
Suppose some nation Of Europe should
go to South America and seek to subject
a weak people there. In this day those
nations TO the south have such "A degree
of civilization that the excuse could not
be made that is made In the case of bar
barous tribes. Why, the whole civilized
world would rise up and leglons would
crowd to the bar of nations. crying
Hands of. hands off," (Applause) Let
the strong Keep away from the weak. And
yet We are not weak. I listened here once
to the singing OF patriotic songs at a
close Of Congress, and In face of the
vigor, patriotism. and high aspirations
displayed, with the gift OF song that was
shown in this chamber, along with a GER
tain glamour and enthusiasm Of the occa-
sion. there was one thought that came to
me more than any other. and that was.
What nation anywhere could stand u
against this free America in case OF a
conflict? War is not a matter alone Of
armies, but Of resources and endurance.
and In that particular we stand far ahead
of any other nation on the globe. Certain
ones say TO us-some Of those who are
most earnest in their advocacy OF tie
battle sAip-there viii be war with Ger
many. or war with England. perhaps, or
war with France. Those nations cannot
thrive without the supplies obtained from
this country. Why. II you shut off Eng
land from obtaining food from this coun-
try, in six months there would be .arva-
ton Talk about sending battle ships up
the difficult channel OF the st. lawrence
There would be no boundary line between
the United States and Canada b. the time
the battle ships got across the Atlantic
daughter and applause)
There is a solidarity of interest among
the nations Of the earth-sueh that war
Will not be tolerated It is practically
impossible between civilized nations. un-
less some irresistible ground for conflict
exists, as did exist in the case OF Japan
and Russia / must say as regards Japan
that no nation which has made leaps and
bounds into the family Of civilized ma
tons has behaved with more moderation
than the Japanese. (Applause.) Along
triumph
there has been a magnificent growth In
civilization and in those features which
bring them into line with modern life: but
II there were to be a contest between this
country and Japan. what would it be? Il
would be a contest between races, and l
am not willing TO give up the idea that
the Caucasian race viii be dominant IN
the worlds affairs for all time. (Ap-
plause) There has been a good deal OF
talk about how Japan was going after
the Philippines. A great relief has been
given to that alarm within a few DAYS by
the talk of designs which Japan has upon
Australia daughter and applause) Why,
that is rational; il Japan has designs, ii
is against the civilization OF the Western
world. so that 1t is out OF the question
that there should be any contest In which
We would be alone. We have no en-
tangiing alliances. rejoice In the thought
that, although if we should be involved
In struggle, no marching armies from
other nations would keep step for our sup
port, nevertheless IN any quarrel of ours
with any people OF Asia it is not our
cause, it is the cause of them all: and
this situation which viii make for our
worlds peace as well.
I have listened oftentimes to the talk OF
our becoming peacemakers by building a
navy. How absurd that Isl Great Britain
starts In as a peaeemaler and has a navy
sufficient to quell disorder anywhere in
the world. to make disorderly people be-
have themselves. But Germany thinks
that it is not enough; she must also be
a peacemakeT more than Great Britain
France comes into the list. and she must
be peacemaker, and this competition In
peacemaking is a spectacle in the eyes of
the world (Applause) But you are not
going to make anybody believe IT, The
increase of navies is TO increase the might
and the prestige of the countries which
build them. and for each enlargement in
our naval programme the whole world
will look with an added degree OF suspi-