Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-30
SENATOR ROOT PRESIDES
President Taft's Discussion Of In
ternational Law.
Declares Talk Of War Between
Japan and United States
II Absurd.

forts by nations to perfect a bond OF
universal peace was marked at the nth
annual banquet Of the American So
ctety Of International Law. held last
evening at the New Willard.
President TAFT and Senator Root, for
the United States: Baron Uchida, repre-
resenting Japan. and James Bryce, am
bassador from Great Britain. expressed
qualification that peace on earth: good
will among rep" Is the spirit OF the
times. and the $50 diners cheered the
prediction Of Senator Henri La Fontaine
Of Belgium that this spirit will soon
become permanent.
Baron Uchida again took the oppor-
tunity to declare that the friendship be-
tween this country and Japan is on a
firm foundation and termed the talk of
war absurd.
Sir Charles Fitzpatrick, chief justice of
the supreme court Of Canada, praised the
United States for its advancement of
plans for the codifcation Of International
law, and incidentally said that this coun-
try and Great Britain must carry to a
conclusion their plans for world peace.
He intimated that the proposed reci-
procity treaty with Canada is a step in
the right direction.
President Taft's Speech.
Senator Root, Who acted as toastmas-
ter. made an eloquent plea for uni
versal peace in his opening remarks
and he was applauded for several min
utes. President Taft. who came early
and remained until the close Of the
feast, was the first speaker.
He said:
Il have been serving under, and fol-
lowing the advice, direction and order
of your president so many years that
/ have found 1t impossible not to
respond tonight. Mr.. Root has way
What the deuce did you accept that in
yitation for? Why did you go to this
city and make a speech? 1t didn't do
you any good, and 1t didn't do the peo-
pie you spoke to any good
I'VE had way Of lecturing my prede-
cessor, Mr.. Roosevelt, in the same way.
and he insisted that We addressed even
every mothers meeting which would give
us the opportunity. But observe when
he has any responsibility with respect to
peals for help. I began my political hfe
under him. and I suppose 1 shall con-
tinue to walk along in the uncertain
path that he directs.
1T is q great pleasure to be in the
atmosphere Of lawyers. 1t is one that ]
used to breathe. I am glad to come here
for little while and feel myself respec-
table in the company Of the Grief JUS
tice Of the United States and the Chief
Justice of Canada.
International Law Discussed.
your subject is international law.
talked once with justice OF the United
States Supreme Court. He said to me,
Taft, what Is law? thought that was
a peculiar question, coming from the JUS
tice OF court t;?at was supposed to
know that defiriticn perfectly, and ]
said, MIR. Jus, I would rather hear
You define it..
We'll he said, what is it but lot
Of rules of conduct established on prin-
ciples Of supposed general policy that
were laid down some hundreds Of years
ago by men who did not know anything
more about it than you and I do
"Well, don't know that that describes
municipal law as it is administered in
the Supreme Court Of the United States.
but I think perhaps some such general
definition might be given to international
law.
international law Is really a wonder
full creation. I was reading the other
night, in that book Of Andrew Whites on
Seven Great Statesmen OF the World,
man living as he did in that age Of
awful wars. when 1t seemed as IL all
morality had been blotted out, and as il
there was nothing but blood and cruelty
and might, should be able to write the
works he did and make law-not at
once, but gradually and certainly-by
the force Of his argument. and the basis
Of Justice upon which he put what he
advanced Is really wonderful.
Conscience of Nationa.
international law has no sanction ex-
cept in the conscience Of nations, and ma
lions have not anywhere near the con-
science that individuals have. You take
a mob and consider the spirit that gov
erns it as distinguished from that which
governs the individuals making the mob,
and you find that illustrates the difference
between the conscience of the Individual
and the conscience Of a nation; and yet
the unitarian spirit, or perhaps q real
conscience in all nations, has ulti-
mately brought about a sanction for
what We call International law,
without any power to enforce 1t, but SIM
ply from the general public opinion of
all the peoples Of the world. Begun by
individuals. reasoned from their own
condolences and from their own sense Of
justice. without any power to enforce
their opinion and finally, but reluctantly,
adopted by nations by common consent,
the history Of the growth of the inter-
national law will command our admira-
ton, our wonder and our hope for a
law in the future that should make us
all optimists.'
Time and again tho chief executive
was forced to- pause until the applause