The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1927-03-04
Elihu Root Calls On American People
To Use Their Vast Powers For Peace

I bitter feelings were aroused. Those
| feelings ca me 10 be carried over 10
| the League Itself: and It came to
be a common thing that we could
read IN the uewspa pers and boar
In speeches and In conversation ex-
pressions Of expectation that the
| League would fail. and evident
( pleasure when II seemed that II
might fail. Those feelings were
! extended to the Court hich vas
| presently created TO cover another
/ part OF TIE field IN the same effort
TO bring about permanent peace
| Heprisals began 10 ccfne from The
other side. Unkind expressions
never can be confined to one side
ReprisaIs began TO come. Disagree
able things were said uIon the
other side, and a period OF pin
pricks has proceeded for years. II
has colored and conditioned the
consideration OF the debts between
the foreign nations and ourselves.
Tribute to League and Court
'"Tkat is not all Not only did
we forget the demands OF honor
able obligation resting upon old
associations and Fellowship and
the expectations raised by our own
representative; but consider the
service that was rendered by :le
League and by the Court. lor
these years the League in the
political field and the Court In the
judicial field have been rendering
the best service in the cause OF
peace known to the history Of
eivilization-incom arably the best.
war results from state OF
I mind. These institutions have
been teaching the people of Europe
10 think in terms OF peace rather
than in terms OF war. They have
been teaching them by actual prac-
tice. by things done, to think Of
oral conference instead of war
about policies; TO think OF arg3-
ment and proof and judicial judy
nent instead Of var about rights:
teaching them 10 acquire habits OF
thinking and OF acting that way.
Tho question of war or peace for
the next generation is being settled
now. today. by the character and
the habits OF thought and feeling,
and the standards OF conduct.
which the people of the world are
learning today to guide them il
the e1igencies OF the future.
1--WE. the great peace-lovins
people, what have we done to help
in this wonderful new work? No
sym apathy. no moral support, ne
brotherhood. Our executive de-
partlnent has done the best i
could, but governments can dc
little. II is the people. the power
of the people behind the govern
ment that means everything.
I'VE have allowed insensate pre-
judice. camoufiaged by futile
phrases. to appear, but falsely ap
pear. TO represent the true heart
of the American people with all
its idealism. with It's breadth OF
human sympathy. with its strong
desire that our country should DO
It's share for peace and happiness
and noble life in all the world.
! These are The qualities which save
the soul of a nation rather than
wealth and prosperity. But these
/ qualities do not long survive dis
use. The repercussions OF our do
nestle strife seem to have prevent
I ed the effectiveness OF our noblest
! Impulses.
These my friends. are some OF
the evils visited upon Us by a hate.
full and contentious spirit: from
which may The good Lord deliver
US"
The message vas delivered ~
Mr.. Root at the recent dinner az
the Hotel Astor, New York. when
he received the $4,000 award Of
the Woodrow Wilson Foundation
in recognition OF his services in
helping to establish the World
Court.