Evening star., 1909-05-20
SPEECH AT LAKE MOHONK
Foresees the Triumph Of Reason Over
Brute Force.
THE DANGER IN HERO WORSHIP
Says Statesmen Who Avoid Disas-
trous War Should Be More Hon
ored Than Great Generals.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

LAKE MOHONK. n. Y. May 2O.-In-
terest at the annual Lake Mohonk peace
conference centered today around wu
Ting-fang. the Chinese minister to the
United States.
The minister delivered an address on
"China's Attitude Toward Arbitration"
In opening, DR.. WI reminded the con-
ference that the art Of war was one
that had been much practiced in China.
and that from time many centuries
before the Christian era until after the
fourteenth century Chinese history dealt
in large part with the toll and trouble
of war. Our history" he continued.
bears testimony to as many deeds of
desperate valor as that of any nation,
while to this day many of the eminent
generals Of olden times enjoy the honor
and worship due to them as demigods.
1t is well known that our people make
good soldiers. Some of you have, I
think. read the reports of military ex-
perts commissioned by western powers
to witness the maneuvers of our mod
ern army in the past few years, and you
will remember that they. one and all,
bestowed flattering praise on our OFF,
GERS and men.
notwithstanding all this. one may
agree with such eminent sinoiogues as
E. P. Parker when they state that our
people have none Of the characteristics of
a warlike race. and that our triumphs
over less cultivated peoples who lived in
our neighborhood have been gained more
by peaceful means than by force of arms.
Civilization Versus War.
From the earliest times our methods
Of acquiring property have been of an
assimilative and peaceful nature In
deed. 1T may be truly said OF our people
that the expansion Of the empire ha.
been the logical consequence of gu
perior civilization. Time and again China
has been overwhelmed by foreign In
vaders from the north, but in every case
the conqueror has surrendered to til,
laws. customs and institutions of tn.
conquered.
"And what is arbitration? Is it not tt
submit to the judgment of an impartia
court the decision Of the rights and
wrongs Of an international disagreement,
or misunderstanding? Is it not to dc
away with the old and barbarous way OF
settling disputes by bloodshed and MUIR
der? In short. when we have arbitration
we drag down the god Of war from his
bloody throne and install In his stead JUS
tice and law. My people. therefore. wei
come the dawning of this new day. We
are elated at the triumph of law and rea-
son over brute force. Arbitration Is in ac-
cord with our best sentiments. and we
only regret that our efforts to carry out
the provisions of The Hague peace con-
ference have not met with that encour-
agement which they deserve.
"China is strongly in favor of arbitra-
tion and hopes the day will soon arrive
when compulsory arbitration will be made
the law of nations"
Danger In Hero Worship.
Speaking of the chief causes of war and
their remedies, DR.. WI said:
''Men like martial honor and fame: to
enable them to obtain those. there must
be opportunities for them to distinguish
themselves. 1t must not be supposed that
attribute to them-either military or
naval men-such hard heartedness and
cruelty as to wish for war. No, on the
contrary. I believe such men, generally
speaking, are kindhearted and humane,
and would not shed drop of blood need
lessly. But when a general or an admiral
who has won a battle Is showered with
honors and made a great hero of the
country or when a statesman has car
ried through a successful war for MS
country is praised and lauded to the sky
Dy MS cOQnlrynen, Is IL not lOo uluCi
to expect from human nature that men dc
not sometimes yearn for an opportunity
justifiable occasion-.for war. In order
to distinguish themselves? Is not this
encouraging people to fight?
ITO avert war and encourage arbitra-
ton, in my humble opinion. the public.
and in fact the whole world, should be
educated to look upon war as most dis
astrOus and accurSed event, and those
engaged in the struggle, though success
fully, should not be worshiped as they
have been. statesman who has avoided
a disastrous war should be more honored
than a great general"