The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-08-08
TAFT AND PEACE.

The Seattle Post Intelligencer pays
a high tribute to President Taft and
his work for worldwide peace in the
following:
Quietly and without the beating of
ltomtoms, one of the greatest achieve
ments OF modern craftsmanship was
perfected when the United States,
England and France entered into a
pact designed to perpetuate the peace
of the world. Germany. Japan and
other powers finally will perhaps ac-
cept the principle involved in the
identical agreements yesterday signed
at Paris and at Washington city.
Burdened by ornaments, overtaxed
to build and maintain the powerful
engines Of war and destruction now
.afoat on the seas, and TO equip great
standing armies, every respectable
power of the world took almost instant
notice Of President Tafts bold, wise
and progressive suggestion that the
powers enter into more comprehensive
arbitration agreements, such as, in his
opinion, would reduce the probability
iof war TO the lowest possible minimum,
and at once relieve the peoples of all
nations Of a useless and crushing OUT
lay for a brutal purpose.
Peace is the thing most desired by
enlightened men. War Is a dreadful
thing. 1t means a useless waste of
blood and treasure. 1t paralyzes the
energies Of industry. It chokes and
.stagnates the arteries of commerce. It
absorbs the capital Of the nations in
volved in war. Often 1t strains to the
limit the credit of nations 1t pulls the
patriotic and virile manhood Of the
spowers involved into a hot and bloody
and sacrificial vortex. It confuses the
minds Of men, often blinds them to the
merit Of adversaries, fosters a preju-
ttiee which century win not efface,
and develops narrow antagonisms
which hurt and hinder the worlds
progress toward enduring ideals.
e Quick to perceive the world wide
longing for peace, and, because of the
experiences Of his own country. and
his knowledge OF history, understand
ing the horrors and the burdens of war.
president Taft first made to England
The momentous suggestion that a peace
pact, sufficiently broad to compass ey-
cry possible dispute which might arise
between the powers, be entered into
with a view Of settling by arbitration,
in peaceful way, all such disputes
tEngland's response was instant and
enthusiastic. France followed with
equal enthusiasm. Germany. while
trifle skeptical Of the practi-
cality of the movement. indorsed the
principle OF it, and Japan, as shrewd
IN diplomacy as courageous in war, has
expressed willingness and desire
70 join In this historic and far-reachina
movement. It now seems certain thai
other powers will follow
IT William Howard Taft had rem.
3 dered the world no other service; ii
ne had never charted the way for ths
Education and the civilization, and
hnally, the liberty of even the blindes
land humbiest Of the naked and savage
nonaads Of the Philippines; If he hae
never pacified Cuba in an hour of tur.
MOL, distraction and distress; If hi
had rendered no service to commend
him to his countrymen, and to fix hi.
place in American history, this lates
and greatest of all OF his achievement,
would forever have endeared him Il
bis countrymen and to the enlightened
men and women OF all nations.
III Civilization takes a long strid,
e9when three of the most enlightene.
'Aand progressive powers OF the worIs
agree peacefully to settle all question
which may become the subject of con
gtroyersy between them, including evei
= such nice questions as involve nation
al honor.
But the world, paying not more thai
just homage to wise leaders, is pro
"a crossing toward things worth while
There still may be wars and rumors D
wars. Carlyle was more than hal
right perhaps when he said humanit.
was neither perfect nor perfectible
Dut we seem to be nsaring the sea