Semi-weekly herald. [volume] (Durango, Colo.) 1907-1917, 1915-12-09

ty, and is most effectually secured
against the danger Of maladministra-
ton; and that, when any government
shall be found inadequate or contrary
to these purposes, a majority OF the
America that we seek no political
suzerinty or selfish control.
The moral is that the states Of
America are not hostile rivals but
cooperating friends. and that their
growing sense Of community of in
terest, alike in matters political 9nd
in matters economic, is likely to give
them new significance as factors in
international affairs and in the pol
lite history Of the world. 1t pre-
sents them as in a very deep and true
sense unit in world affairs. spirit
ual partners, standing together be-
cause thinking together, quick with
comomn sympathies and common
ideals. Separated they are subject
to all the cross currents of the con-
fused politics of world Of hostile
rivalries; united in spirit and purpose
they cannot be disappointed of their
peaceful destiny.
This is pan-Americanism. 1t has
none of the spirit of empire in it.
1t is the embodiment, the effectual
embodiment of the spirit of law and
independence and liberty and mutual
service.
A very notable body of men re-
Gently met in the city of Washington
at the invitation and as the guests
of this government, whose delibera-
lions are likely to be looked back to
as marking memorable turning point
in the history of America. They
were representative spokesman Of
the several independent states of this
hemisphere and were assembled to
discuss the financial and commercial
relations of the republics of the two
continents which nature and political
fortune have so intimately linked to-
getner. | earnestly recommend to
your perusal the reports of their pro-
ceedings and of the actions of their
committees. You Will get from them
/ thing, a fresh conception of the
ease and intelligence and advantage
with which Americans of both con
tinents may draw together in prac-
teal cooperation and of what the
material foundations of this hopeful
partnership of interest must consist
of how we should build them and OF
how necessary it is that we should
hasten their building.
There is, | venture to point out, al
especial significance just now attach
ing to this whole matter of drawing
the Americas together in bonds oil
honorable partnership and mutual ad
vantage because of the economic re-
adjustments which the world must in
evitably witness within the next gen
GRAFTON, when peace shall have at
last resumed its healthful tasks. In
the performance of these tasks ! be
iieye the Americas to be destined to
play their parts together. | am inter
ested to fix your attention on this
prospect now because unless yau take
it within your view and permit the
full significance of it to command
your thought | cannot find the right
light in which to set forth the par
ticular matter that lies at the very
front of my whole thought as I ad
dress you today. | mean national de
Tense.
No one who really comprehends the
spirit of the great people for whom
we are appointed to speak can fail
to perceive that their passion is foi
peace, their genius best displayed IN
the practice of the arts of peace
Great democracies are not belligerent
They do not seek or desire war. Their
thought is of individual liberty and
of the free labor that supports life
and the uncensored thought thal
quickens it. Conquest and domain are
not in our reckoning, or agreeable t.
our principles. But just because We
demand unmolested development anC
the undisturbed government of oul
own lives upon our own principles Of
right and liberty, we resent, from
whatever quarter it may come, tn,
aggression we ourselves will not prac
tice. We insist upon security il
prosecuting our self-chosen lines Of
national development. We do more
than that. We demand it also fol
others. We do not confine our en-
thusiasm for individual liberty anc
free national development to the in
cidents and movements of affair:
which affect only ourselves. We fee
it wherever there is a people thai
tries to walk in these difficult path!
of independence and right. From
the first We have made common caus,
with all partisans of liberty on thi.
side of the sea, and have deemed j
as important that our neighbor.
should be free from all outside dom
nation as that we ourselves Shout,
be; have set America aside as a Who'll,
for the uses of independent nation!
and political freedom.
Out of such thoughts grow all oui
policies. We regard war merely a.
a means of asserting the rights of {
people against aggression. And W,
are as fiercely jealous of coercive o.
dictatorial power within our own ma
ton as of aggression from without
We will not maintain standing arm,
except for uses which are necessar,
in times of peace as in times Of
war; and we shall always see to i
that our military peace establishment
is no larger than is actually and con
tinuously needed for the uses of day.
in which no enemies move against us
But we do believe in body of FIRE,
citizens ready and sufficient to tax,
care of themselves and of the govern
ments which they have set I'm TO serve