Evening star., 1909-02-27
INTOLERANCE OF PEOPLE
Begs Support for Diplomats in Efforts
to Prevent Hostilities.
PRAISE FOR sENAToR.ELECT
British and Japanese Ambassador.
Laud His Accomplishments as
Secretary Of State.


censure for "jingoes' and those who by
moderation bring about conditions that
may lead to war. but urging. at the same
time, the necessity for large navy and
a strong army. senator-elect Elihu Root
made an eloquent plea for peace at the
dinner given in his honor at the Hotel AS
tor last night by the Peace Society Of the
City Of New York.
With special reference to the legislators
of California and Nevada, he asked that
members Of the society work for modera-
tion in the tone of public opinion.
The dinner was one of the largest held
in this city for many years. and the at
was a high tribute to Mr.. Root person
ally.
The list of speakers was extraordinary.
too. President-elect Taft headed the list.
but spoke last. Others were James
Bryce British ambassador; Baron Taxa
hira. Japanese ambassador; Joaquin Ma
buco. Brazilian ambassador, and Gov.
Hughes. Joseph II. Choate presided as
toastmaster.
Flags Bordered With White.
White, as the symbol OF peace. predom'-
mated in the decoration of the north ball
room Of the Astor. where the banquet was
held. the walls being lined with the flags
OF all nations. each with white border.
Behind Ambassador Bryce's chair was
British flag of silk, white bordered; be-
hind the chair of Mr.. Taft an American
flag was surrounded with white, and so
on around the room, with even the Chi
nese flag on display. There was no spe-
cial guest table, all the guests sitting at
small round tables. There we're $40 per-
sons present, about half of them women.
Mr. TO q a
pulpit, like arrangement which command
ed a view of both the ballroom and the
gallery extending from It, Each OF the
speakers, in turn, ascended this rostrum
Mr.. Root first paid his compliments to
Mr.. Choate and thanked him for kind
things he had said in introducing him.
Continuing he thanked the society for the
honor it was doing him, then led up
gradually to discussion OF the advan.
tages of civilization over barbarism. of
peace over war.
Peace Founded on Justice.
The work of the Peace Society. he said,
was the work of all men and women, the
work of raising the world to the ideal Of
Christianity. Peace, he said. was never
to be expected unless it was founded on
justice.
And it rests with US in our own coun-
try to see to it that justice prevails
against the interested exhortation OF the
politician. against hot temper and incon-
sideration.''
1t was not enough to cry Peace.
peace Mr.. Root said, but the people
must stand behind the men in whose
hands the negotiations between nations
were.
He continued in part:
In the exercise of those duties in
which the amba ssadors of Great Britain.
r,la
great part in the last few years in
Washington, the great obstacle to the do
ing of things which make for peace has
been not the wish of the diplomatist. not
the policy of the government, but 1T has
been the inconsiderate and thoughtless
unwillingness Of the great body Of the
people OF the respective countries to stand
behind the man who was willing, for the
sake Of peace and justice, to make fair
concessions.
Insist on Extreme Views.
There is a peculiar situation created
when diplomatic question arises between
two countries. It is the duty of the Dip
lomatic representatives to argue each the
cause of his own country. He cannot
turn his back upon an opponent in that
friendly contest and state to his coun-
trymen the weakness of his own position
and the strength of the other sides posi-
of peacemaking and peacekeeping that
the orators, the politicians. the stump
speakers-aye, often the clergymen of
each country-press and insist upon the
extreme view of their own country, and
impress upon the minds of the great
masses of people vino have not studied
the question the idea that all right is
upon one side and all wrong upon the
other side.
'If you would help to make and keep
hQhin6 W hn in
the responsible positions Of government.
ready to recognize the fact that there is
some right to the other side.
"One other thing that you can put
great weight upon. War comes today as
a result either of actual or threatened
wrong by one country to another or as
the result Of suspicion by one country
that another intends to do it wrong. and
upon that suspicion instinct prompts the
country that suspects the attack, to at
tack first, or from bitterness of feeling.
dependent in TO degree whatever upon
substantial questions of differences. and
that bitterness of feeling leads to the sus-
picion, and the suspicion in the minds of
those who suspect and who entertain the
bitter feeling is justification Of war. 1t
is their justification to themselves.
Many Acts of Injustice.
"The least of these three causes of war
is actual injustice. There are today acts
vi injustice UciuS pcIpcIIdtcu ny OhS
country upon another: there are several
situations in the world today where there
is gross injustice being done. I will not
mention them because it would do more
harm than it would good, but they are
! few enough. By far the greatest cause
of war is that suspicion of injustice
| threatened and intended. which comes
j from exasperated feeling. Now the feel
| ing which makes nation willing to go to
war with another makes real causes OF
difference of no consequence.
| IF the people of two countries want to
i fight they will find an excuse. pretext-
! find what seems to them sufficient cause
posed Of without the slightest difficulty
| between countries really friendly are in
! soluble between countries really unfrend-
! ly And the feeling between the peoples
| of different countries are the products OF
| the acts and the words of the peoples of
| the countries themselves, not of lneir
| government. Insult, contemptuous treat
yincial assertion of superiority are the
| chief causes of war today.
| And In this country of ours we are
| far from free from being guilty of all
those great causes of war. The gentle
men who introduced into the legislatures
! of California. Montana and Nevada the
| legislation regarding the treatment of the
Japanese in those states doubtless had
! no conception Of the fact that they were
doing to that great nation of gentlemen,
| of soldiers, Of scholars and scientists, of
statesmen, nation worthy of chaNeng-
| ing and receiving the respect, the honor
/ and the homage of mankind, an injury by
! an insult that would bring on private war
in any private relation in our own coun-