Items of Interest June 24, 1905 Issue

Items of Interest

The Borton Herald, in a timely editorial conserning President Roosevelt and his appeal to the warring nations, and touching incidentally upon the cry for a larger navy, says,—

"Another matter to which it is timely to call attention now, is that the President of the United States has accomplished the delicate task he undertook, of giving calm counsel to two mighty nations, one flushed by great victories in war and the other sore on account of great misfortunes, without any show of controlling naval power to support his reasonable suggestions. The only authority seeming necessary and effective was their conformity to the world's sense of justice and humanity. If his interference (if the action may be called an interference) had been backed by twice as many battleships as are now afloat displaying the flag of the Union, does any one presume that the famous identical letter sent to the Czar and to the Mikado would have been received with greater courtesy or commanded more immediate attention? Is it not made apparent that in order to conserve the peace of the world by good counsel, clear of selfish motive, there is no need to possess great military power? The refusal of Congress to comply fully with the President's request for four new battleships did not at all weaken his influence for peace in this exigency.

"The case would have been different, no doubt, if he had attempted to 'butt in' with an aggressive, commanding temper to dictate what Russia and Japan must do. That sort of thing requires the backing of a threatening military force to compel submission. It was Japan's physical weakness, in comparison with the combined European Powers, that forced her to forego the legitimate fruit of her victory over China in her last war. Such compulsion did not make for peace because it did not make for justice. It is not unreasonable to say that the terms, then enforced were one influential cause of the war now being waged. That experiment will not be repeated this time. There was no profit in it. The wisdom of respecting nationality has received a powerful re-enforcement. The consequences of the aggressive disposition of Russia may well be received as a lesson for ourselves in respect of any ambition cherished in the direction of worldpower."

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