The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-05-04
SECOND NATIONAL PEACE CON-
GREss BEGINS THREE.pAY
SESSION IN CHICAGO.
ORCHESTRA HALL FILLED
by Governor Deneen, Mayor Busse
and Rev. Eugene Bartlett-President
David Starr Jordan Of Stanford Uni
versity Delivers Address.

Chicago, May 3.-"Jaeder Krieg
Verschlingt Inner die Besten'-"Ever
the war devours the best"
These words written by the Ger
man poet, Schiller, a century ago
formed the theme Of an address at
the opening of the National Peace
congress here today by David Starr
Jordan, president of the Leland STAN
ford jr., university.
ut is through selection that all race
progress comes," said DR.. Jordan.
War means always the reversal of
selection.
"The survival of the fittest in the
struggle for existence is the primal
moving cause Of race progress and
of race changes. In the red stress of
common history, this process of sell
ection is sometimes reversed. A re-
versal of selection is the beginning of
degradation. 1t is degradation itself
"The only way in WHICH any race
as a whole has improved has been
through the preservation of it's best
and the loss of it's worst examples
The condition that favors this is de-
mocracy, equality before the law, the
condition which equalizes opportunity
and gives each man the right to stand
or fall on the powers God has given
him.
Destroy the Best.
"trhe only race degeneration ever
known Is that produced by those
forces which destroy the best, leaving
Fnk No fofI ~ In, l1n
could not be uset in the business of
war or colonization.
"The effects of emigration run par
allel with the effects Of war, but this
enormous difference-e-the strong men
who emigrate are not lost to the
world. The loss of one region is the
gain of another. Put the losses in
war can yield no corresponding gain.
"rhe warlike nation of today is the
decadent nation of tomorrow. 1t has
ever been so and in the nature of
things " must ever be.
"Our republic shall endure as long
as the human harvest is good, as long
as the movement of history, the
progress of peace and industry leaves
for the future not the worst, but the
best of each generation. The repub
lie of Rome lasted as long as there
were Romans; the republic Of Amer
lea will last as long as it's people in
blood and in spirit remain what we
have learned to call Americans"
Second Congress.
When the second national reace
congress was opened formally here to-
day, orchestra Hall was we'll filled
with delegates. Robert Treat Payne,
of Boston, president Of the American
Peace society," was in the chair.
Addresses of welcome were made by
Governor Charles S. Deneen, Mayor
A. Busse and by the Rev. A. Eugene
Bartlett chairman of the reception
committee. ...r
A letter from President Taft was
read by Secretary Of the Ipterior
Richard A. Ballinger. who had been
delegated to represent the administra-
tion.
Taft's Letter.
my Dear Sir: greatly regret thai
I am unable TO attend the national
peace congress at Chicago and be
there to express my earnest sympathy
so many distinguished men in the in
terest of world peace. That progress
has been made in the matter OF
peace everywhere, by international ac-
ton, and by the pressure of the peo-
pies of the cath, anyone who has ex-
amined the record must admit.
'It is true that ornaments go on
increasing in cost, but it is also true
that the burdens presented by these
competitions in armament are grow
ing heavier and heavier and the prob
lens for their solution consistent with
their increase becomes more and more
difficult. The possibilities of war now
arising come chiefly from irresponsi'
bilities Of government and those coun.
tries where stability Of internal con-
troll is lacking. The United States has
given much to the cause of peace by
assisting countries weak in respect tt
their internal government so as tt
strengthen in them the cause of law
and order. This relationship of guard
ian and ward between the nations ane
countries in my judgment helps tht
cause of International peace and in
dicates progress in civilization.
",The policy of the United States II
avoiding war under all circumstances
except those plainly inconsistent will
honor or its highest welfare has beer
made so clear to the world as hardl!
to need statement at my hands.
can only say that so far as my legiti
mate influence extends, while at thu
head of this government, it always
will be exerted in the full in favor O
peace, not only between this countr'
and other countries. but between ou
sister nations.
Every SINCERELY yours,
CIVILIAN H. TAFT"
Miss Anna B. Eckstein of Bostol
announced "a world petition to th
Third Hague conference"
DR.. Benjamin F. Trueblood, secre