The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-05-26

s. JOHNSON a CO.. Bosros. MASS.
sive, more complicated, more import
ant.
"The trend of American diplomacy is
illustrated and emphasized by the ev-
ent which makes this occasion pos
sible. The first Pan-American con-
ference was a notable achievement of
our diplomacy. Nearly three-fourths
of a century ago Tennyson with the
rapt vision of the seer, dipping into
the future, far as human eye could
see.' saw that the final safeguard
against the barbarous and inhuman
atrocities of war must be found in a
federation of the world The first
practical step in the direction of such
a federation was taken by the United
States in 1889 when through the in
SEPARATION and under the leadership of
that brilliant statesman, James G..
Blaine, the representatives of the Am
erican Republics gathered together in
Washington in the Srst Pan-American
L
ference was the establishment of a
Pan-American Union with its Inter-
national Bureau of American Repub-
lies. A second conference was held
in the City of Mexico in 1901. The
third was held in 1906 in Rio Janeiro
and was made notable by the pres
ence of our then Secretary of State,
Elihu Root, whose long trip through
the countries of South America mark
ed an era in the development of the
Pan-American spirit. Now we are
looking forward to the fourth con-
ference to be held in Buenos Ayres
and we meet here tonight to bid Cod
speed to one of our delegates to that
important international gathering.
Union of Republics.
The basis of this union of Ameri-
can Republics, now 81 in number, is
liberty and justice and peace. We in
sist that the fullest liberty should be
guaranteed to each individual and
each nation comprising the union.
But individual liberty and national
liberty can be guaranteed only where
justice is firmly established and uni
versally recognized. And justice can
be firmly established only where peace
prevails.
"This Pan-Americun Union has al
ready accomplished much. Its inter-
national bureau, which acts as sort
of international clearing house, is do
ing a remarkable work. 1t is giving
the people of the United States much
needed information regarding the peo-
pie to the south of us. 1t is inspiring
those people with confidence in us. 1t
is unifying and strengthening the
bonds that bind us all together. Now,
thanks to the generosity of that friend
of peace, Andrew Carnegie, it is mag
nificently housed in a noble temple of
peace in Washington, from which
there will radiate through all the flu
ture the benignant rays of interna-
tional liberty and justice and peace
THE Pan-American Union has yet
much to accomplish but we may fell
citate ourselves tonight upon the pro-
gress American diplomacy has al
ready achieved in binding together in
this federation the nations of the new
world.
A Peace Conference.
The peace conference joined in by
the republics of Central America in
1907 followed naturally this Pan-Am-
erican Union. 1t resulted in SOL
emn compact by and between those
governments for the settlement of all
their international differences by a
court of honor which was established
in Costa Rica. And again through
the generosity of our distinguished
countryman, Mr.. Carnegie, this court,
but for the disaster which lately over
took the capital of that little repub-
lie, would soon have been worthily
housed in a temple of peace 1t is
gratifying to know that the earthquake
which destroyed it has only delayed
the work. For Mr.. Carnegie gave
prompt assurance that the destroyed
This peace compact has not yet &C
complished all that it's most enthus-
iastic friends had hoped for. But it
was an undertaking worthy of the ge-
MUS of Secretary Root and one whose
beneficial results in future years will
more than justify the wisdom of our
efforts in behalf of those little re-
publics.
The Panama Canal.
The approaching completion of the
Panama Canal which has already
done much to bring together the peo-
pie of the new world, entails upon
American diplomacy new problems of
deep and far-reaching significance.
We are placing upon future genera
lions the cost of the construction OF
the canal which will probably am
cunt to $50,O00,000. While the canal
will be of peculiar Importance to us
it is nevertheless a world enterprise
in which all the nations are profound
ly interested. The important question
now confronting us is, shall the Am
erican people unaided bear the bur
den of terrifying and protecting thu
lcanal? Shall we entail upon futur
generations the additional burdel
made necessary by costly fortified
tons and by the maintenance of
garrison of eight or ten thousand men
Or shall we call upon the nations c
the world who are to enjoy the bene
fits of the canal to join with us