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statesman or scholar or writer or worker of any sort who really
accomplishes anything for our country； is certain。
To sum up his position in contemporary history： As the German
nation is the result of an evolution of individual and national
character in obedience to resistless inner forces and to its
environment； so out of the medley of imperial and royal
Hohenstaufens； Hapsburgs； Wittelsbachs； Wettins； Guelphs； and the
like； have arisen； as by a survival of the fittest； the
Hohenzollerns。 These have given to the world various strong
types； and especially such as the Great Elector； Frederick II；
and William I。 Mainly under them and under men trained or
selected by them； Germany； from a great confused mass of warriors
and thinkers and workers； militant at cross…purposes； wearing
themselves out in vain struggles； and preyed upon by malevolent
neighbors； has become a great power in arms； in art； in science；
in literature； a fortress of high thought； a guardian of
civilization； the natural ally of every nation which seeks the
better development of humanity。 And the young monarch who is now
at its headoriginal； yet studious of the great men and deeds of
the past； brave； yet conciliatory； never allowing the mail…clad
fist to become unnerved； but none the less devoted to the
conquests of peace； standing firmly on realities； but with a
steady vision of idealsseems likely to add a new name to the
list of those who； as leaders of Germany； have advanced the
world。
CHAPTER XLV
AS PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN DELEGATION AT THE PEACE CONFERENCE
OF THE HAGUE： I1899
On the 24th of August； 1898； the Russian Government proposed； in
the name of the Emperor Nicholas II； a conference which should
seek to arrest the constantly increasing development of armaments
and thus contribute to a durable peace； and on the 11th of
January； 1899； his minister of foreign affairs； Count Mouravieff；
having received favorable answers to this proposal； sent forth a
circular indicating the Russian view as to subjects of
discussion。 As to the place of meeting； there were obvious
reasons why it should not be the capital of one of the greater
powers。 As to Switzerland； the number of anarchists and nihilists
who had taken refuge there； and the murder of the Empress of
Austria by one of them shortly before； at Geneva； in broad
daylight； had thrown discredit over the ability of the Swiss
Government to guarantee safety to the conference； the Russian
Government therefore proposed that its sessions be held at The
Hague； and this being agreed to； the opening was fixed for the
18th of May。
From the first there was a misunderstanding throughout the world
as to what the Emperor Nicholas really proposed。 Far and near it
was taken for granted that he desired a general disarmament； and
this legend spread rapidly。 As a matter of fact； this was neither
his proposal nor his purpose； the measures he suggested being
designed 〃to put an end to the constantly increasing development
of armaments。〃
At the outset I was skeptical as to the whole matter。 What I had
seen of the Emperor Nicholas during my stay in Russia had not
encouraged me to expect that he would have the breadth of view or
the strength of purpose to carry out the vast reforms which
thinking men hoped for。 I recalled our conversation at my
reception as minister； when； to my amazement； he showed himself
entirely ignorant of the starving condition of the peasantry
throughout large districts in the very heart of the empire。＇8＇
That he was a kindly man； wishing in a languid way the good of
his country； could not be doubted； but the indifference to
everything about him evident in all his actions； his lack of
force even in the simplest efforts for the improvement of his
people； and； above all； his yielding to the worst elements in his
treatment of the Baltic provinces and Finland； did not encourage
me to believe that he would lead a movement against the enormous
power of the military party in his vast empire。 On this account；
when the American newspapers prophesied that I was to be one of
the delegates； my feelings were strongly against accepting any
such post。 But in due time the tender of it came in a way very
different from anything I had anticipated： President McKinley
cabled a personal request that I accept a position on the
delegation； and private letters from very dear friends； in whose
good judgment I had confidence； gave excellent reasons for my
doing so。 At the same time came the names of my colleagues； and
this led me to feel that the delegation was to be placed on a
higher plane than I had expected。 In the order named by the
President； they were as follows： Andrew D。 White； Seth Low；
President of Columbia University； Stanford Newel； Minister at The
Hague； Captain Mahan； of the United States navy； Captain Crozier；
of the army； and the Hon。 Frederick W。 Holls as secretary。 In
view of all this； I accepted。
＇8＇ See account of this conversation in 〃My Mission to Russia；〃
Chapter XXXIII； pp。 9…10。
Soon came evidences of an interest in the conference more earnest
and wide…spread than anything I had dreamed。 Books； documents；
letters； wise and unwise； thoughtful and crankish； shrewd and
childish； poured in upon me； in all classes of society there
seemed fermenting a mixture of hope and doubt； even the German
Emperor apparently felt it； for shortly there came an invitation
to the palace； and on my arrival I found that the subject
uppermost in his mind was the approaching conference。 Of our
conversation； as well as of some other interviews at this period；
I speak elsewhere。
On the 16th of May I left Berlin； and arrived late in the evening
at The Hague。 As every day's doings were entered in my diary； it
seems best to give an account of this part of my life in the
shape of extracts from it。
May 17； 1899。
This morning； on going out of our hotel； the Oude Doelen； I found
that since my former visit； thirty…five years ago； there had been
little apparent change。 It is the same old town； quiet；
picturesque； full of historical monuments and art treasures。 This
hotel and the neighboring streets had been decorated with the
flags of various nations； including our own； and crowds were
assembled under our windows and in the public places。 The hotel
is in one of the most attractive parts of the city
architecturally and historically； and is itself interesting from
both points of view。 It has been a hostelry ever since the middle
ages； and over the main entrance a tablet indicates rebuilding in
1625。 Connected with it by interior passages are a number of
buildings which were once private residences； and one of the
largest and best of these has been engaged for us。 Fortunately
the present Secretary of State； John Hay； has been in the
diplomatic service； and when I wrote him； some weeks ago； on the
importance of proper quarters being secured for us； he entered
heartily into the matter； giving full powers to the minister here
to do whatever was necessary； subject to my approval。 The result
is that we are quite as well provided for as any other delegation
at the conference。
In the afternoon our delegation met at the house of the American
minister and was duly organized。 Although named by the President
first in the list of delegates； I preferred to leave the matter
of the chairmanship entirely to my associates； and they now
unanimously elected me as their President。
The instructions from the State Department were then read。 These
were； in effect； as follows：
The first article of the Russian proposals； relating to the
non…augmentation of land and sea forces； is so inapplicable to
the United States at present that it is deemed advisable to leave
the initiative； upon this subject； to the representatives of
those powers to which it may properly apply。
As regards the articles relating to the non…employment of new
firearms； explosives； and other destructive agencies； the
restricted use of the existing instruments of destruction； and
the prohibition of certain contrivances employed in naval
warfare； it seems to the department that they are lacking in
practicability and that the discussion of these articles would
probably provoke divergency rather than unani