“America is too great to be isolated from the world around her and beyond her.  She is a world power, to whom no world interest is alien, whose voice reaches afar, whose spirit travels across seas and mountain ranges to most distant continents and islands—­and with America goes far and wide what America in the grandest ideal represents—­democracy and liberty, a government of the people, by the people, for the people.  This is Americanism more than American territory, or American shipping, or American soldiery.  Where this grandest ideal of American life is not held supreme America has not reached, where this ideal is supreme America reigns.  The vital significance of America’s triumphs is not understood unless by those triumphs is understood the triumph of democracy and of liberty.

“If it was ever allowed to nations to rejoice over the result of their wars, America may rejoice to-day.  Shall we then chant the praises of war and change this jubilee of peace into a jubilee of war?  Heaven forbid!

“‘We love peace, not war.’  The greatness of America makes it imperative upon her to profess peace—­peace to-day, peace to-morrow.  Her mission as a world power demands that she be a messenger, an advocate of peace before the world.  Fain would we make her jubilee of peace a jubilee of peace for all nations.  At least the message from it to the world shall be a message of peace.

“That at times wonderful things come through war, we must admit; but that they come through war and not through the methods of peaceful justice, we must ever regret.  When they do come through war, their beauty and grandeur are dimmed by the memory of the sufferings and carnage which were their price.

“We say in defense of war that its purpose is justice; but is it worthy of Christian civilization that there is no other way to justice than war, that nations are forced to stoop to the methods of the animal and savage?  Time was when individuals gave battle to one another in the name of justice; it was the time of social barbarism.  Tribunals have since taken to themselves the administration of justice, and how much better it is for the happiness and progress of mankind.

“It is force, or chance, that decides the issue of the battle.  Justice herself is not heard; the decision of justice is what it was before the battle, the judgment of one party.  Must we not hope that with the widening influence of reason and of religion among men, the day is approaching when justice shall be enthroned upon a great international tribunal, before which nations shall bow, demanding from it judgment and peace?  Say what we will, our civilization is a vain boast.

“’Till the war drum throbs no longer, and the battle flags are furled In the parliament of man, the federation of the world.  There the common sense of most shall hold a fretful realm in awe, And the kindly earth shall slumber, wrapt in universal law.’

“It is America’s great soldier who said: