The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-05-05
His Speech on Peace.
(By Associated p+raSs1

tBy Associated Press)
Christiania, Norway, May Sit is
with peculiar pleasure that | stand
here today to express the deep appre-
citation / feel of the high honor con
ferfed upon me by the presentation OF
the Nobel Peace Prize. The gold
medal which formed part of the prize
shall always keep, and shall hand
it on to my children as a precious
heirloom. The sum of money provld-
ed as part of the prize by the wise
generosity of the illustrious founder
OF this world famous prize system,
did not, under the peculiar circum-
stances of the case, feel at liberty to
keep. think 1t eminently Just and
proper that In most cases the recip-
lent of the prize should keep for, his
own use the prize in its entirety. But
in this case. while did not act Off
cially as president of the United
States, 1t was nevertheless only be-
cause | was president that | was en-.
abled to act at all; and | felt that
the money must be considered as hay
ing been given me in trust for the
United States. | therefore used it as
a nucleus for foundation to forward
the cause of industrial peace, as being
well within the general purpose OF
your committee; for in our complex
industrial civilization of today the
peace of righteousness and Justice,
the only kind OF peace worth having,
Is at least as necessary in the indus
trial world as il Is among nations.
There Is at least as much need to
curb the cruel greed and arrogance OF
the part of the world Of capital, to
curb the cruel greed and violence oil
part of the world of labor, as TO check
cruel and unhealthy militarism in
International relationships.
We must ever bear in mind that
the great end In view is righteous
ness, justice as between man and
man. nation and nation, the chance
to lead our lives on a somewhat high
er level, with a broader spirit OF
brotherly good will one for another
Peace is generally good In itself, but
It Is never the highest good unless IL
comes as the handmade of righteous
ness; and IL becomes very evil thing
II 1t serves merely as a mask for cow
ardice and sloth, or as an instrument
to further the ends OF despotism or
anarchy. We despise and abhor the
bully, the brawler, the oppressor,
whether in private or public life;
but we despse no less the coward and
the yoluptuafy. No man is worth
calling a man who will not fight rath-
er than submit to infamy or see those
that are dear to HIM snher wrong.
No nation deserves TO exist il II per-
mits itself TO lose the stern and vi
rlle virtues; and this without regard
to whether the loss Is due to the
growth OF heartless and all-absorb-
ing commercialism, to prolonged in
dulgence in luxury and soft effortless
ease, or TO the dedication OF warped
and twisted sentimentality.
Moreover, and above all, let us re.
member that words count only when
they give expression to deeds or are
to be translated into them. The
leaders OF the Red Terror" prattled
OF peace while they stepped theiI
hands in the blood OF the innocent;
and many tyrant has called 1t peace
when he has scourged honest protest
! into silence. Our words must be
judged by our deeds, ana IN striving
for a lofty ideal we must use prac
tical methods; and If we cannot at
tain all at one lean, we must advance
toward 1t step by step, reasonably
content so long as we do actual.
make some progress In the right dl
fection.
Now, having freely admitted tn
limitations to our work, and the qua
iflcatious to be borne In mind. fee
that have the right to have m
words taken seriously when poin
out where, In my judgment. great ad
vance can be made In the cause 0
international peace. speak as
J practical man. and whatever nov
advocate actually tried to do whe
was for the time being the head q
great nation. and keenly jealous G
its honor and interest. ask othe
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