East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1910-04-23
corner o
Annex
the building
Rates ST Day and Up. European
European

careful to see that the nation neither
inflicts nor suffers wrong. just as a
gentleman scorns equally to wrong
others or to suffer others to wrong
him ! do not for one moment admit
that political morality is different
from private morality, that n promise
made on the stump differs from a
promise made in private life. l do not
for one moment admit that a man
should act deceitfully as a public
servant in his dealings with other ma
tions, any more than that he should
act deceitfully in his dealings as
private citizen with other private citi-
zens. l do not for one moment ad-
nit that a nation should treat other
nations in different spirit from that
in which an honorable man would
treat other men.
International lay.
In practically applying this prin-
ciple to the two sets of cases there is,
of course. great practical differ
ence TO be taken into account. We
speak of international law; but in
ternational law is something wholly
different from private or municipal
law, and the capital difference is that
there is a sanction for the one and no
sanction for the other; that there is
an outside force which compels in
dividuals to obey the one, while there
| is no such outside force to compel OBJ
edience as regards the other. Inter-
national law will, l believe, as the
Operations pass, grow stronger and
stronger until In some way or other
| there develops the power to make 1t
| respected. But as yet it is only In
the first formative period. AS yet, as
| a rule. each nation is of necessity
Obliged to judge for itself In matters
| Of vital importance between 1t and
its neighbors, and actions must OF
| necessity, where this is the case, be
| different from what they are where,
as among private citizens, there is an
| outside force whose action is all
| powerful and must be invoked in any
| crisis of Importance. 1t is the duty
of wise statesmen. gifted with the
| power of looking ahead, to try to en-
courage and build up every move
ment which will substitute or tend to
substitute some other agency for force
| in the settlement OF international dis
putes. 1t is the duty OF every honest
statesman to try TO guide the nation
so that II shall not wrong any other
nation. But as yet the great civilized
peoples, If they are to be true to them
selves and to the cause of humanity
and civilization, must keep ever in
mind that in the last resort they must
possess both the will and the power to
| l. a. ~.
men who sanely believe in a lofty
mortlity preach righteousness; but
they do not preach weakness, wheth-
er among private citizens or among
nations. We believe that our ideals
should be high, but not so high as to
make II impossible measurably to re-
alize them. We sincerely and earnest
ly believe in peace; but II peace and
justice conflict. we scorn the man
who would not stand for justice
though the whole world came in arms
against him.
In Conclusion.
And now, my hosts, word in part
ing. You and | belong to the only
, two Republics among the great pow
ers of the world. The ancient friend
ship between France and the United
states has been, on the whole. sim
| cere and disinterested friendship. A
, calamity to you would be sorrow to
us. But 1t would be more than that.
In the seething turmoil of the his
, tory of humanity certain nations
| stand out as possessing peculiar
, power or charm, some special gift OF
, beauty or wisdom or strength, which
J puts them among the immortals
, which makes them rank forever with
the leaders 'of mankind. France IL
one of these nations. For her to sink
, would be a loss to all the world.
There are certain lessons of brillance
, and of generous gallantry that she
, can teach better than any Of her Sis