The Wilson times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1896-19??, 1910-05-06
INTERNATIONAL
PEACE ADDRESS
Colonel Roosevelt Speaks Be-
fore Nobel Prize Commission.
CHERISHES HIS GOLD MEDAL.

OAl6IltOtIAO lilo OUAU UAOHGa
Gives His Views on How War Can Be
Avoidsd-Favors Arbitration First.
Advises European Powers to Study |
Constitution Of the United States.
Should Limit Size of Ships.
Christiania, Norway, May 5.-Colonel
Theodore Roosevelt delivered an ad-
dress before the Nobel prize commits
sion on International Peace" as fol-
lows:
It is with peculiar pleasure that l
stand here today to express the deep
appreciation I feel of the high honor
conferred upon me by the presentation
of the Nobel peace prize. The gold
medal which formed part Of the prize
I shall always keep, and l shall hand
It on to my children as a precious
heirloom.
The sum of money provided as part
Of the prize by the wise generosity Of
the illustr4ous founder of this world
famous prize system did not, under
the peculiar circumstances of the case,
feel at liberty to keep. L think 1t emf
cases the recipient of the prize should
keep for his own use the prize in its
entirety. But In this case, while 1
did not act officially as president of
the United States, it was nevertheless
only because 1 was president that I
was enabled to act at all, and felt
that the money must be considered as
having been given me in trust for the
United States.
I therefore used it as a nucleus for
a foundation to forward the cause of
Industrial peace, as being we'll within
the general purpose of your commit
tee, for on our complex industrial civil
lization Of today the peace OF right
eousness and justice, the only kind OF
peace worth having, is at least as nee
essary in the industrial world as 1t Is
among nations.
There is at least as much need to
curb the cruel greed and arrogance of
part of the world Of capital. to curb
the cruel greed and violence Of part OF
the world of labor. as to check a cruel
and unhealthy militarism in interna.
tional relationships.
Peace Generally Good.
We must ever bear in mind that the
great end in view is righteousness
justice as between man and man, ma
tion and nation, the chance to lead oul
lives on a somewhat higher level, with
broader spirit OF brotherly good VIII
one for another.
Peace is generally good in itself, but
1t is never the highest good unless II
comes as the handmaid OF righteous
ness, and it becomes very evil thing
If it serves merely as mask for cow
ardice and sloth or as an lnstrumen1
to further the ends OF despotism Ol
anarchy.
We despise and abhor the bully, tn,
brawler, the oppressor, whether I'm pri
vate or public life. But we deSpis'
no less the coward and the voluptu
ary. No man is worth calling a maj
who will not fight rather than submit
to infamy or see those that are dea
to him suffer wrong.
No nation deserves to exist if 1t per
mits itself to lose the stern and viril
virtues, and this without regard t
whether the loss is due to the growtl
of q heartless and all absorbing CEN
mercialism, to prolonged Indulgence 4
luxury and soft, effort1ess ease or
the deification OF a warped and twist
ed sentimentality.
Moreover and above all let as re
member that words count only whe
they give expression to deeds or are t
be translated into them. The leader
of the red terror prattled Of peac
while they STEPPED their hands in tn
blood Of the innocent. and many
tyrant has called it peace when he ha
scourged honest protest into silence.
Our words must be Judged by OF
deeds, and in striving for lofty ides
we must use practical methods, an
If we cannot attain all at one lea
we must advance toward it step b
step, reasonably content so long as "
do actually make some progress in tt
right direction.
Now, having freely admitted the liI
atations TO our work and the Qualif1c
tions to be borne In mind. feel that
have the right to have my words take
seriously when point out where,
my Judgment. great advance can
made In the cause of information
peace.
speak as practical man, al
Aever now advocate actual
10 do when was for the tin
NJ he head Of great nation al
ealous OF fits honor, and int
ask other nations to do on
should be glad to see my ov
10.
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