The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-05-25


connected with great conference OF
this sort. We are rot. therefore, try
| ing to make use of each other, but
we are trying to be. Of use to one an
other.
ut is very surprising to me. 1t is
even q source of modification. that q
lconfefence like this should have been
SO long delayed. that 1t should never
have occurred before, that II should
have required a crisis of the world to
show the Americans how truly they
were neighbors' to one another. IL
there Is any one happy circumstance,
gentlemen, arising out of the present
distressing circumstances of the world,
1t is that II has revealed us to one
another: 1t has shown US what 1t
means to be neighbors. And cannot
help sarbofing the hope. the very
high hope. that by this commerce OF
minds with one another, as well as
commerce In goods, we may show the
world in part the path to peace.
Way to Peace Manifest.
~ would be a very great thing TX
the Americas could add to the distinc-
ton which they already wear this OF
showing the way to peace, to perma-
nent peace. The way to peace for us.
at any rate, is manifest 1t Is the
kind of rivalry which does not involve
aggression. 1t Is the knowledge that
men can be of the greatest service to
one another and nations OF the great
est service to another when the Jeal-
ousy between them Is merely a Jeal-
ousy of excellence, and when the basis
of their intercourse Is friendship.
There is only one way in which we
wish to take advantage OF you. and
Ia
doing the things that we seek to do
for each other better, IL we can, than
you do them. and SO. squirting you on,
IL we might, by so handsome Jeai-
ousy as that to excel US.
II am so keenly aware that the
basis OF personal friendship Is this
Competition in excellence that l am
perfectly certain that this Is the only
basis for the friendship of nations,
this handsome rivalry, this rivalry In
which there is no dislike. this rivalry
in which there is notDing but the
hope OF a common elevation in great
enterprises which we can undertake
in common.
Means of Communication Lacking.
There is one thing that stands in
our way among others--for you are
more conversant with the circum-
stances than ! am; the thing ! have
chiefly In T.s:nd is the physical lack OF
means OF communication, the lack OF
vehicles. the lack OF ships. the lack
OF established routes or tra"e--tne
lack of those things which are abso-
lutely necessary IL we are to have
true commercial and intimats COM
merc.al relations with one another.
end ] am perfectly clear in my judg-
ment that IL private capital cannot
soon enter upon the adventure of es-
tabIishing these physical meals of
communication the government must
undertake To do so We cannot an
definitely stand apart and need each
other for ME lack of what caN easily
be supplied and IL one instrumeritality
cannot supply 1t, then another must
be found which will supply II. We
cannot know each other unless We see
each other: we cannot deal with eacn
other unless we communicate with
eaca other. SO soon as we commu-
nicate and are upon a familiar foot
ing of intercourse with one another
we shall understand one another, and
the bonds between the Americas will
be such bonds that no influence hat
the world may produce In the future
will ever break them.
IF am selfish for America. I at
least hope that my selfishness 10 en-
lightened. The selfishness that hurts
the other party is not enlightened sell
fishness IL | were going upon mere
ground of selfissnness I would seek TO
benefit the other party and so tie him
to myself; so that even II you were TO
suspect me of selfishness. ] nope you
will also suspect me of intelligence
and of knowing the only safe way for
the esta blishment of the things which
we covet. as well as the establishment
of the things which we desire and
which we would feel honored II we
could earn and win.
Welcome From Heart and Head.
Il have said these things because
they will perhaps enable you to un-
derstand how far from formal my
welcome to this body 10. 1t Is well
come from the heart, It is a weicome
from the head. 1t Is welcome In
spired by What l hope are the highest
ambitions or those who live in these
| two great continents. who seek to set
an example to the world in freedom
of institutions. freedom of trade and
| intelligence of mutual service"
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