The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-05-04
TAFT TALKS PEACE.
Declares United States Has No Desire
TO Extend Its Domain.

Baltimore, Md, May president
Taft, in his speech at the opening OF
the Third National Peace conference
here said the United States would keep
hands off and not seek to extend its
domain or to acquire foreign territory.
The president made no mention of
Mexico, but to those who heard him 1t
was evident the trouble in the situation
there and the suspicion in the South
American republics as to the intention
of this nation in regard to its southern
neighbors had inspired him.
zone of the difficulties the United
States finds is the natural suspicious
that countries have of the motives
which the United States has in tender
ing it's good Offices continued the
president.
Assertion of good faith helps but lit
tie when the suspicion is real and yet
] like to avail myself of an opportunity
in such presence as this to assert that
there is not in the whole length and
breadth of the United States among It's
people any desire for territorial ag-
grandizement and that it's people as n.
whole will not permit it's government,
II 1t would, to take any steps in respect
to foreign peoples looking to a forcible
extension of our political power.
I'VE have had wars and we know
what they are. We know what re-
sponsibilities they entail, the burdens
and horrors, and We would have none
of them. We have a magnificent do
main of our own in which we are at
tempting to work out and show to the
world success in popular government
and We desire no more territory IN
which to show this.
But we have attained great pros
perity and great power. We have be-
come powerful member of the COM
munity of nations in which We live and
there is, therefore, thrust upon us
necessarily care and responsibility for
the peace of the world in our neighbour
hood, and a burden of helping those
nations that can not help themselves,
II We may do that peacefully and eff
fectively."
AN arbitration treaty between two
great nations of the world" said the pres
tdent, would be a very complete step in
securing the peace of the world. I do not
claim any patent for new discovery in
that suggestion, because l have no doubt
1t has been made before.
IF such an arbitration treaty can be
concluded l have no doubt an important
step viii have been taken, but it will
not bring an end of war. 1t is a ster
only; and we must not defeat our pur.
poses by enlarging the expectation of the
disappointing it.
I'VE must realize that we are dealing
with a world that is fallible and full o1
weakness, with somewhat of wickedness
~ anu tidL lue IeAOTIIlS IndI are WOrtf
having are brought about little by lfttl,
and not by one law
The president was particularly inter.
ested in speech by DIR. ]. A. MacDon.
aid, editor of the Toronto (Canada) Globe
warm advocate of reciprocity.
II that arbitration treaty between YOU
country and England is ratified" sait
DIR. Macdonald. the name of William
Howard Taft will be remembered il
world history so long as man loves peace
Above all other nations Canada ha:
the greatest stake in the proposed treaty
she has the most to gain by peace; tn,
most to lose by war.
canada desires the pact not for her
self alone but for the sake of the Who'll,
world. The time to do it is at hand
The hour is trembling, ready to strike
the tide is swelling to the flood, and 1
I ever had the right to speak for M