The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-05-31
Makes Plea for Peace
in Ad DIR ess at
Arlington.
COST Is GREATER
III A N BENEFITS
Points to Changed Views Re
garding Fighting of Duels, and
Thinks This Should Apply to
Nations Celebration Most
Impressive Washington
Has Seen.

washington, D. O., May 3o-Under
the shaded arches of the Arlington
National Cemetery President taft
spoke to- day, not so much as the
friend of peace. but as the enemy of
war. Thousands. of veterans tramped
the hot asphalt OF the capital streets,
crossed the Potomac and trudged the
dusty roads to Arlington to hear the
President speak. Thousands OF others
came in automobiles and by street
cars and when MIR. Taft. with Secre-
tary of War Stimson. came whizzing
up 10 the vine-covered amphitheatre,
there were fully 10000 people in the
seats and crowded about the speakers
stand. 1t was probably the most I'm
pressive and most largely attended
Memorial-Day celebration Washington
has seen.
Far be IL from me- said the Presi-
dent, ITO minimize in any way by these
suggestions the debt we owe to the
men buried here. who carried on the
successful struggle that resulted in
the abolition of the cancer of slavery.
and which seemed. ineredicable. save
by such an awful slaughter OF the
brightest and bravest and best OF the
nations youth and manhood. 5
81 shall not stopEto discuss whether
It might have been possible TO accom-
plishi the same great reform by milder
methods. Whether that be true or
not. the supreme sacrifice of these
men, who lie about US. in the cause
of advancing humanity can never be
iessened or obscured by such a sug-
gestion. But the thought at which I
would but hint this morning is that
even in the hallowed presence of these
dead, whose ideals of patriotism and
love of their countrymen II needed a
war to make eyerlastingly evident,
we should abate no effort and should
strain every nerve. and avail our
selves OF every honorable possible de-
vice TO avoid wsriin the future. X
Peneft4 Of Military Discipline. M
II am not blind to'the aid In creat-
ing sturdy manhood that the military
discipline we see III the standing
armies of Europe and the regular army
OF this country furnishes, nor do
deny the incidental benefits that may
grow out Of the exigencies and sequelae
Of war. But when the books are bal
anced, the awful horrors OF either
internecine or international strife far
outweigh the benefits that may be
traced to IT.
Let us leave this beautiful city OF
the national dead. therefore. with the
deepest gratitude to the men whose
valorous deeds we celebrate and whose
memories we cherish with the tender
est appreciation of the value of the
examples they set, but with deter
mination in every way possible. con-
sistent with honesty and national self
restraint. to avoid the necessity for
the display OF that supreme self-sac-
riicc that we commemorate to-day in
them.
1t was not so long ago. the Presl-
dent said. when an insult by one man
to another in the same social class
could only be wtped out In blood, and
It took more moral courage to avoid
a duel than to fight one But We have
progressed away from that idea, he
said.
III that be true now. why may It.
not be true in the near future OF ma
lions? Why Will 1t not show more
patriotism and moro love of country
to refuse to go to war for an Insult.
and to submit to the arbitra ment Of
peaceful tribunal, than to subject a
whole people to the misery and sur
fering and burden of heavy cost OF
national war. however CLOSED over
BY the excitement and ambitions and
glory of successful conquest?"