New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-05-07
HONOR SECRETARYKN
Peace League EntertdinS Him on
His Birthday.

Washington. May 6.-Advocates Of international
peace through arbitration at the New Viii
lard tonight as guests of President James 3. Nc
Creary. OF Kentucky. and the directors of the
American Peace and Arbitration League Score
tary Knox the guest of honor. to-day being
the dfty-sixth anniversary OF his birth
Among the speakers were ex-senator McCreary.
Ambassador Bryce. of Great Britain Minister
Portela of the Argentine Republic Justice Brewer
Of the Supreme Court of the United States; Sen
ator Taylor. of Tennessee: Speaker Cannon and
Henry Clews. of New York The guests included
many of the men most prominent in public life IN
the capital and members of the diplomatic corps
The object of the league is TO promote adequate
armament and effective arbitration as correlative
agencies for national security and international
peace and Justice This the keynote Of the
speeches of the evening The presence of Senior
Portela taken to emphasize the fact that the
next great gathering Of representatives Of the
nations Of North South and Central America is 10
be held in his country This is the coming Pan
American conference Several times in the even
ing reference was made to the fact that IL was
President McCreary. then a member of the House
Of Representatives. who introduced and saw en-
acted into law. in 1855 bill providing for the frst
PanAmer1can conference.
Senior PorteIs compared the preparation OF the
people of North and South America for a repre-
sentative form of government making the point
that the adaptation of the latin nature TO Saxon
tradition had been bloody and difficult task
the midst Of the unceasing struggle against
racial atavism. struggle which for over quarter
of 4 century did not allow single day OF do
mestic quiet peace abroad. peace with all the
sisters OF the hemisphere. has always been IT'S
most cherished DESIRE he declared
While strongly favoring universal peace, MI
CIcws declared that the United States must not
be aggard in its naval and military preparations
so long as other nations continue TO follow this
poIfcy. until the greater nations Of the world
combine 20 let Justice, backed by argument pre-
vail and leave disputes 10 be settled in accordance
with the judgment Of international jury i
favor the most liberal appropriations for oHence
and defence, with the hope and prayer that uni
versai peace may soon prevail Insurance against
possible war is a duty that must not be negiecteo
as it is under all conditions the best preventive Oh
war
Secretary Knox spoke Of his interest in the pHr-
poses Of the organization whose guest ne was. ana
declared that every moral intelligent man should
be for peace and for all honorable means toward
attaining that end. AS in the settlement OF comes
tic differences public opinion largely favored the
substitution OF the arbitrator for the bludSeon so
in international disputes he looked forward 10 me
time when arbitral courts would supersede the ap-
peal 10 arms He closed with glowing picture OF
the dav when nations would vie with each other IN
suggesting amicable means 10 compose their dlrIer-
ences.
Ambassador Brvce argued for better public
opinion in all civilized countries-one that would
look with horror on war and all that II implied
Each country should try learn more about the
other he said. and not approach each other WIN
suspicion. Each should credit the other with DE-
sire for peace Passions should be arrested and an
honest effort made from running headiOnG into
trouble Speaking of ornaments, he suggested that
a country like the United States ought 10 consider
how fl is possible 10 suspend them IN all parts OF
the world He referred 10 the efforts OF the united
States and Mexico 70 keep peace IN Central Amer
lea stating that they had been Of great service 10
the world
Speaker Cannon said he believed that the budgets
of the nations are now and will more and more be
come so burdensome that for the common protec-
ton of civilization there must be an agreement 10
cease voting money for war He was optlmisuc'
he said. and believed that in course OF time the
world would substantially disarm
Justice Brewer declared himself in favor OF Peacs
and arbitration. of peace and ironclads- He
protested against the keeping Of large army and
navy saying they were not needed and had they
been kept on the basis that existed before the
Spanish war. the country would be free from debt
Cornelius y. Bliss. of New York. made an ad-