The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-01
HENRY WATTERSON
PLEADS FOR PEACE
Only Imaginary Dignity Prevents
|. Ratification of Arbitra-
ton Treaties.
SLAMS AT COL. ROOSEVELT
Speaker Says He Wasn't Much
|. Afraid Of Executive Often Pic
turcd OH Horseback.
SLAMS AT COL. ROOSEVELT


Hotel Auditorium and gallery. Henry
Watterson. veteran author. orator and
editor. pleaded eloqucntly yesterday
for peace. Commanding In appearance,
and speaking with the ready wit and
direct attack of man convinced of
the justice of his position, the versatile
kentuckinn held the closest interest of
his hearers.
Only Senate overdisposed to con-
guilt Its own dignIty-imugInary dig
nifty, he said. land with decided
prediction for quibbling and splitting
hairs, stands In the way of the rati-
ilcation of the arbitration measures.
Here. as well as in many other quar-
to the most amazing Misrepresentation,
much of IT, am afraid. through sell
fish reasons
Not Extra Constltutionnl.
Mr.. Wattcrson ridiculcd the position
taken by number of public men
that tho proposed arbitration treaties
with England and France arc extra
constitutional and outside the lines
prescribed by organic law. The same
Legislative machinery Is used. he said
In putting through these pacts as has
been used In formulating the numerous
treaties that this country has entered
into with other nations during the
past century
The argument advanced by some
that the pending treaties. II ratincd.
would make the United Statos respon-
sible for the debts of the individual
states and even render II liable for
the bonded Indebtedness of the Con-
fcdcracy, Mr.. w..ttersOn regarded ns
little short of laughablc In the
very preamble to the treaties. he said
IT is provided that they arc TO apply
n
ratification. and that they arc to have
no hearing upon the past.
AI"nr"c Doctrine Obsolete.
In similar manner he disposed OF
tho fear that the pence pnc,s will
demoraizc the Monroe Doctrine That
surviving product OF an obsolete
statcsnnnship, enuncintcd AT the in
stance of England. and designed solely
10 prevent the agErcssions of tho
Holy Alliance in South America. has
performed the service for which II was
created, and IL no longer force in
world politics. Tho principle for which
II stood cannot In any way be ondan-
Eercd. for no tenet of international
law Is so firmly accepted and cstab-
iiShcd ms that providing for the pre-
dominant influence OF the United
states in the Western Hemisphere"
IF civilization and increasing intel
itEcnce have eliminated the Iuello in
oiFiduallS as "a means OF settling dis
pntes between gentlemen. why" asked
Mr.. Watterson. shall Il not also re-
move the ducllo collectively MS an In
strument for adjusting differences be
tween nations? War is not essential
TO viril'ty and to the existence OF ma
lions The wars of Greece and Rome
depleted tho manhood of Greece and
Rome. Napoleon'a wars degraded the
manhood of France Our own MAR
Between the states dcnowcrcd the
manhood of the South by removing
IT'S ablest sons. AMI leaving the renkcr
ones to work out its rcgcncra ton.
Favored by England and France.
England and France, through years
OF painful experience. have come 10
know this, he declared, and stand
ready 10 join with the United Statca
In Il pact which, II it will not wholly
eliminate the possibility OF war, Will
at lenst render impossible its sudden
descent overnight
In the United States on the other
hand. said the speaker. owing TO
the perVersity of some and ignorance
OF many, organizations and propa-
Eanda, an appeal to reason Is
needed to prove to an indifferent pub
Tic the palpable truism that peace is
better than war. ! belong myself to
that considerable body OF Americans
who require deal of coaxing to be
good. but have long ago become
convinced that the code OF honor.
which for many centuries supported
the duello and stu sanctions organ
lied warfare, is nothing more than
the offspring OF an unmnnly vanity"
Has Faith In People.
While he had i'm abiding faith in
the American form of government,
with it's admirable systems of checks
and balances. Mr.. Wattcrson said, and!
feared for no branch Of the system.
either executive judicial or admins
trauVc, he had Il still greater faith
in the people who. in the long run.
will translate their will into Ierisla-
ton.
II wasn't very much afraid of the
executive when the White House was
occupied by an individual commonly
pictured on horseback" said the Ken
lucky editor, while the audience
roared a the allusion. Strong cXecu-
tive or weak executive. progressive
Congress or rctrogressive Congress,
the arbitration treaties will be ratified
because the American people want
them ratified, and because the govern
mcnt is the instrument Of their WILL
Make War UnfHshfonnbIc.
MIR. Watterson concluded his address
with an appeal to the people to enlist
in the cause of promoting international
amity through the means of arbitra
ton treaties. and particularly by urE-
ing The ratification of the measures
now pending in Congress. This accom-
plshcd, he said, the United states will
take her place at once at the head Of
nations and as II nation Q! ncaccnal
crs instead of a nation OF traders.
Let us unite" he said, ito move
onward In the direction OF justice and
peace: let us try to make war at least
questionable.
when he entered the hall. When he
arose to address the gathering at the
conclusion OF a short Introduction by
former Governor 4. j. Montague, the
cheering and handclappinG were long
ana vigorous. Mayor -. G. Richardson
presided and welcomed the dstin-
Suishcd editor.