Daily Kennebec journal., 1910-12-15
Millions for Peace.
n millions for peace.


men that even the most critical could
not find fault, Mr.. Carnegie declares
that the s,1m mentioned is to ''hasten
the abolition of international war;
and that "the nation is criminal which
refuses arbitration"
Following the proposal Of President
Taft and Secretary Knox to the world
powers last spring, inviting considera-
ton of an international peace court,
this act Of the great philanthropist
shows what Americans are doing and
are willing to do, to conserve the rights
Of all men. It is the spectacle Of the
most powerful nation on earth urging
allied protection Of the weak against
possible eneroachment.
President Taft would convert the
arms of the nations into an interna-
tiona1, police, under control Of a great
court Of peace. He would have the
nations which are now spending hum
dreds Of millions Of dollars annually
in the support Of great navies and
armies, disarmed, except for a portion
Of the strength Of each which should
be contributed toward an information.
al force to carry out the verdict Of the
judicial head.
The President believes that matters
Of national honor should be referred
to q court of arbitration just as read
liz as matters Of property or Of ma
tional proprietorship. He would have
the tribunal composed Of men Of honor
who understand questions Of national
honor, and he would also have every
nation abide by their decision.
Before the International Bureau Of
American Republics. last spring,
President Taft said: I'VE 81 repub-
lies cannot afford to have any two or
,ayy three of us quarrel. We must
stop this, and Mr.. Carnegie and l will
not be satisfied until all 10 OF us can
intervene by proper measures to sup
press a quarrel between any other
two"
In 1897 4 treaty was drawn by
4 distinguished Englishman, Lord
Pauncefoot, and Secretary Olney. It
failed Of passage by the necessary
two-thjrds majority f.the- Senate by
only three votes. Its purpose was to
settle all disputes between America
and Great Britain, by arbitration.
There is reason to believe that the
British government has been desir-
Gus Of having that treaty ratified.
With the English-speaking race agree
ing upon such q policy we should not
have long to wait says Mr.. Carnegie,
Tor others to join US.
Mr.. Carnegie has named 90 men
whose names are household words
They arc educators, financiers, bank
crs. diplomats, philanthropists. The
sum he places in their hands will pro-
vide 100000 annually for the work. He
does not lay down rules for them Ia
follow but asks them to consider how
they can best help man onward and
upward, and to this end to devote this
fund
President Taft has consented to be
an honorary president of the founda.
tion. Tho trustees organized by
choosing Elihu Root as permanent
representative Of the United States al
The Hague peace tribunal. The foun-
dation is perpetual and marks an ad-
vance in the direction toward which
great minds are tending.
Governments may act diplomatical
~, but money adyertises. President
Taft's diplomatic suggestion has no,
been answered. so he declared in his
message to Congress-, but Carnegie's
Fn1essage to the world talks out loud
1t Rill be read and discussed in Lon.
tlo,l. Paris. Berlin. and every other civ.
|ilized capital. = :
Money talks and ten million dollars
shouts SO its voice may be heard
around the world. When Carncsie's
trustees invade the government circles
of the great powers they will be recog.
nized, for the subjects of kings and vo.
ters of republics will have heard O.
their object.
And, after all, it is public sentiment
that prevails. With the people of a
few of the great powers demanding &c
be relieved Of the burden of supper,
OF these immense armies and nayies
the var cloud would be dissipated for
ever in the rays of the sun of peace
In the face Of world sentiment 70,
peace, with one power demanding ar.
bitration ii would be impossible fol
another to stand out. With the mos,
powerful nations seeing the folly o,
war and its useless drag on the tax.
payers Of nations and urging sen,
siblc method of adjusting disputes ant
difficulties, it seems that many Of thu
smaller powers, at least, should glad
ly follow.