The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-05-05

I
party try to evade the verdict by
force or otherwise. Hence our plan
has been amply tested. It is sup
ported by enlightened public opinion
which is stronger than either armies
or navies, and It has the blessing
of the noblest and best Of mankind. .
- - .--.s.lgsa.,r'
81 am very aappy to bring TO you
today the greetings of the oldest em-
pire i'm the world, of which ! have the
honor TO be its official representative
you this afternoon, because the ma
tion / represent is famed for its love
of peace. When It is remembered
that China has a population of -four
hundred millions you will agree with
me that it's attitude on the subject
of war and peace is of some import
ance to the world at large, and | can
assure you that whatever other
changes, political. educational and
social, may take place in my coun-
try, her traditional policy of settling
disputes by discussion and amicable
means will not be departed from.
China has no schemes of self-ag-
grandizement NJ the expense of 9TH
ers-so often the cause and pretext
of bellicose action. Even in her days
of past conservatism and seclusicn
from the nations of the West, he's
only desire was to be left alone anJ
ne permitted to enjoy peace. Her
motto has been and is, Live and le.
live"
at is not, however, that tie
Chinese are afraid to fight When
compelled by necessity they make a
good record for themselves. 1t is
their disposition, their educcSion
which has made them peace loving
people.
"In recent years the reorganization
of the army occupies prominent
place on our program of reform, and
the excellent showing made by our
troops of the Northern and Southern
Armies at the maneuvers of the past
two years, witnessed and favorably
reported by correspondents and mill
tary experts of different nations,
proves that there is good material in
our people for the making of soldiers.
The reorganization of our army need
not, however, create the least alarm,
nov Is IL in conflict with the objects
OF this Society. The Chinese Govern
ment has been actuated by one aim,
and that is to place the troops in a
state of efficiency for police and de-
fensiye purposes only. This is in ac-
cordanco with the principle laid down
by many eminent statesmen that in
order to maintain and preserve peace
it is necessary to he prepared for
war. China never has been and new
er will be aggressive in a military
way--she is too fond of peace and
realizes too fully the horrors of war
IF general disarmament should be
proposed, you will not find China in
disposed to accept It. ! am aware
that upon this subject there is diff
ference of views. We all have yet to
learn and to educate public opinion
for the cause of peace. Many inven-
tions and discoveries have been made
in the last several centuries which
have contributed to the welfare of
mankind. Bat what greater good
work can there be, venture to ask,
than that of interesting people in the
cause of universal peace and leading
them to- see the iolly and brutality
of Strengthening one another by fear
full machines, which is the object of
this Peace Society?
IL congratulate the President and
those gentlemen who are associated
with him in doing this good work,
and 1t affords me great qualification
to take a humble part In the meeting
of this Congress.
1T must be remembered that in no
period of human history has COM
merce reached such gigantic propor-
tiOns as at prrlent. The marked ad-
vance in Transportation facilities by
the inventions of the last century has
caused international trade to become
a feature of current history. The ap-
plication of steam and electricity,
both on land and on the sea, have
revolutionized methods OF trade and
travel. Not long ago 1900 tons OF
pig iron from the Hanyang Steel &
Iron Works, which are in the central
part of China. travelled six hundred
miles down the Yangtse river, and
fourteen thousand miles Ly sea and
were laid down IN Brooklyn, N. Y,
at seventeen dollars and a half per
ton, The terminus of the longest
in the world is Pelling, and
it is possible to travel today ON an
unbroken road from the interior OF
my country to Paris, France. These
facts alone are enough to show that
nations are interdependent, and
should have friendly relations with
each other. No nation nowadays
should wantonly declare war, because
the commercial interests of the
worlds nations are too valuable to