Mr. Smiley had been for some years a member of the United States Indian Commission, and his experience in that capacity had awakened a deep interest in the welfare of the remaining Aborigines, who had too often been the prey of unscrupulous white men who came in contact with them.  About sixteen years ago he conceived the happy idea of calling a conference at Mohonk of those who were conversant with Indian affairs and most desirous to promote their well being.  His invitation brought together such distinguished philanthropists as the veteran ex-Senator Henry L. Dawes, General Clinton B. Fisk, General Armstrong, the founder of Hampton Institute; Merrill E. Gates, Philip C. Garrett, Herbert Welsh, and that picturesque and powerful friend of the red man, the late Bishop Whipple of Minnesota.  The discussions and decisions of this annual Mohonk Conference have had immense influence in shaping the legislation and controlling the conduct of our national government in all Indian affairs.  It has helped to make history.

The great success of this conference, which meets in October of each year, led my Quaker friend, Smiley, eight years ago, to inaugurate an “Arbitration conference” for the promotion of international peace.  It was a happy thought and has yielded a rich fruitage.  About the first of every June this conference brings together such men and women of “light and leading” from all parts of our country as ex-Senator George F. Edmunds of Vermont, the Rev. Edward Everett Hale of Boston, the Hon. William J. Coombs, the Hon. Robert Treat Paine, Dr. B.F.  Trueblood, John B. Garrett and Joshua L. Bailey, Colonel George E. Waring, Hon. John W. Foster, Chief Justice Nott, Warner Van Norden, and a great number of well known clergymen and editors have read able papers or delivered instructive addresses on that ever burning problem of how to turn swords into plowshares, and spears into pruning hooks.

I especially sympathize with the spirit of this Arbitration conference, not only because I abominate war per se, but because I firmly believe that among the grievous perils that confront our nation is the mania for enormous and costly military and naval armament—­and also the policy of extending our territory by foreign conquests.  The high mission of our Republic is to maintain the fundamental principles initiated in our Declaration of Independence—­that all true government rests on the consent of the governed.  It is an impious profanation of our flag of freedom to make it the symbol of absolutism on any soil.  In the conflict now waging for true American principles, I heartily concur in the views of the late Benjamin Harrison, who was one of the most clear-sighted and patriotic of our Presidents.  Just before his death I addressed to that noble Christian statesman a letter of heartfelt thanks for the position he was taking.  With the following gratifying reply which I received, I conclude my chapter on peace-loving “Smiley-land”: