The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-02-27
Former Secretary Of War Root
Discusses Causes That
Lead Up to War
BITTER CONFLICTS HAVE
BEGUN ON SUSPICION
President-Elect Taft Speaks of Philip
pine Trip and Says 1t Was Prime
Cause of His Being the
Guest of the Society.

New York, February 26.-The Peace
Society of New York brought together
around the banquet table at the Hotel
Astor tonight a notable gathering of
men prominent in national, state and
city affairs. The dinner was in honor
of Senator-elect Elihu Root of New
York, and Joseph H. Choate was toast
master. President-e1ect William II.
Taft, Gov. Charles E. Hughes, Right
Hon. James Bryce, the British ambas
sador; Baron Kogoro Takahira, ambas-
sador from Japan, and Joaquin Nabuco,
Brazilian ambassador, were the speak
ers and the guests numbered 500.
President-elect Taft arrived early
and as he came in with Judge Alton B.
Parker the guests arose and gave him
an ovation. Mr.. Root, the guest of
honor. and Joseph H Choate, who in
the absence of Andrew Carnegie, pres
ident of the society, presided, followed
Mr.. Taft and Judge Parker.
With the ending of the menu, the
diners left their tables and gathered
en- masse around silk, bedecked pull
pit which had been erected at the side
of the banquet hall, from which the
speak ers addressed the guests. There
was a shout of sympathetic laughter
and 9 round of applause as the smiling
face of Joseph H. Choate, the presid-
ing chairman of the evening, appeared
in the tribune.
Mr.. Root was then introduced. The
diners stood up and while the orches-
ira played a fanfare, they applauded
and cheered and cheered the former
Secretary of State for some time.
Roots Address.
Mr.. Root dwelt upon the causes that
led to war and said:
IT agree with Mr.. Choate that there is
no inconsistency between the work of
a Secretary Of War and the work of
a secretary of peace, because so long
as selfishness and greed and a willing
ness to do injustice continue in this
world, we must have the policeman; and
the international policemen whose pres
ence makes the use of his club unnec-
essary is the army and navy.
WAR comes today as the result eth
er of actual or threatened wrong by
one country to another, or as a result
of a suspicion by one country that an
other intends to do 1t wrong, and upon
that suspicion, instinct leads the coun-
try that suspects the attack, to attack
first; or from bitterness of feeling, de-
pendent in no degree whatever upon
substantial questions of difference, and
that bitterness of feeling leads to sus-
picion, and suspicion, in the minds of
those who suspect and who entertain
the bitter feelings, is justification for
war. 1t is their justification to them
selves. The least of these causes of
~-7r is actual injustice.
Far From GuiItIess.
In this country of ours we are far
ON free of being guilty of all these
great causes of war. The gentlemen
who introduced into the legislature of
California, Montana and Nevada, the
legislation regarding the treatment of
the Japanese in those states, doubtless
had no conception of the fact what
they were doing to that great nation of
gentlemen, of soldiers, of sch olars and
scientists. of statesmen-a nation wor-
thy of challenging and receiving the
respect, the honor and homage of man
kind-an injury by an insult that would
bring on private war in any private
relation in our own country. Thank
heaven, the wiser heads and the sound
er hearts, instructed and enlight tened
upon the true nature of the proceed
ings, prevailed, and overcame the in
considerate and thoughtless.
Now. this is the subject for you to
deal with The government cannot reach
It; laws cannot control 1t. Public opinion,
public sentiment must deal with 1t, and
when the public opinion has risen to that
height, all over the world. that the peo-
pies Of every country treat the peoples of
,4t.o .atr will hot h1,rt,
kindness that binds home communities
together, you will see an end to war.
mo one can fail to see that the contin-
uous and answering tendency of human
development is toward peace and the love
of mankind"
Tribute BY Bryce.
Ambassador Bryce is concluding his ad-
dress, said:
"President Roosevelt and Mr. Root will
he long remembered as statesmen who
have deserved well indeed of the sacred
cause Of peace
Every one in the room arose. and with
a waving of handkerchiefs and cheering
greeted Mr. Taft as he took the speakers
tribune
.arhe first thing that 1 want to say
in an apologetic tone began Mr.. Taft,
"is that Elihu Root ought to be Presi-
dent-elect and l prospective member
of his cabinet, because l know how to
serve under him.
''The pleasure, the honor of having
served the country in association with
Elibu Root and Theodore Roosevelt" Mr..
Taft continued will continue to be the
greatest honor l have ever enjoyed
I'VE organized society in the cabinet
There was Athos and Porthos and
d'Artagan and Aramis. My friend was
Athos Who dArtagan was leave to you
to- guess. Porthos | have only to intro
duce to YOU, and / am not going to be-
tray, because of his love affairs with the
duchess But / instance that to show
tho spirit of Fellowship that there was
n that company, and Of the Willingness