The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-05-31
TWO VIEWS OF PEACE.
Taft and Roosevelt Air Their Opinions
Before the Veterans.

Washington, May 31-Under the
shaded arches of the Arlington Ma
tional cemetery, President Taft in
Mem orial day address spoke not so
much rs the friend of peace. but the
enemy of war.
Far be it from me-" said the presi-
dent, ''tC 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 ineradicable save by
such an awful slaughter of the bright
est and bravest and best of the ma
TONS youth and manhood.
Il shall not stop to discuss whether
it might have been possible to accom-
plish the same reform by milder meth
DDS. Whether that be true or not, the
supreme sacrifice of these men who
lie about us, in the cause of advanc-
ing humanity can never be lessened or
obscured by such a suggestion. But
the thought at which / would hint
this morning is that even in the hal
lowed presence of these dead whose
ideals of patriotism and love of their
countrymen it needed a war to make
everlastingly evident, we should abate
no effort and should strain every nerve
and avail ourselves of every honorable
possible device to avoid war in the flu
ture.
II am not blind to the aid in Great
ing sturdy manhood that the military
discipline we see in the standing
armies of Europe and in the regular
army of this country furnishes, nor do
/ deny the incidental benefits that may
grow out of the exigencies and Sc
qualae of war. But when the books
are balanced, the awful horrors of
either internal or international strife
far outweigh the benefits that may be
attained in it,
ROoseveIt's Address.
New York, May 31.-Theodore
Roosevelt stood beside General Daniel
w. Siclxles, the only surviving division
commander of the Civil war. at CRAFTS
tomb and aroused a Memorial day
throng to long applause by a denunci-
alton of false apostles of peace"
He referred to the days of 1861, when,
he said, the veterans he addressed de-
fled the lie told in the name of peace;
he voiced his faith in peace only as the
handmaiden of justice and, with vigor-
Gus gestures, he stirred the gathering
TO tumultuous cheers with the declara-
ton that unrighteous peace was 4
greater evil than war.
Il believe in national and interna-
tional peace he said. but l stand for
it only as the handmaiden of justice.
You men recall that in the days of 81
there were cries for peace, but there
was no peace. You are not to be led
by the false apostles of peace, you, who
defied the lie told in 81. when that lie
was told in the name of peace.
Il want peace with every nation and
do not see why we should not have it
for an indefinite period as long as other
nations behave themselves and act in
such a manner as not to rob us of our
self respect.
II want to have the navy kept up. A
powerful navy is no provocative for
war, but is provocative for peace.
You may think because 1 talk thus 1
talk against the interest of peace. That
is not so. am talking of peace. 1 be-
believe that every honorable method
should be used to avoid war. but 1 will
do nothing dishonorable to avert it.
80 far as my voice has weight. 1 will
protest against this countrys making
an agreement to arbitrate anything of
any kind the country would not stand
for when a test came. For instance, this
country would not stand for arbitration
over the Monroe doctrine nor would
they consent TO an agreement permit
ting Asiatic people to come into this
country in unlimited numbers.
II do not believe that this country