E363^ Copy 2 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS DD0D5Da4313 » N '<?> X 5 ^ • • _ r-rx^ ^ .^ . ^2 ^vk>^. U//^'^>, 7 K .•^• o « ^ ^V^" <, / ^V^ I » # 0- A ''^^^" o &^J .-i^" . ^^-^ % . o • » ' < vj> , o " o *°-% .%<^^/ *.,•!• •'• .« '" '^ A^ **^ •o^*^' " ' ( y ^ ^^-^^^ A ' U I. «'»*^ . fA K"T. 'J ; t 1 \*-»--_* L/t. '5 American Qlommlttc^" to rrlrbralr tl^r nff. among JEnQllBb Speafting peoples lSl4l9l4 .Ov'N^ ^, ^ ^ ENERAL Prospectus of the Project to Celebrate the Centenary of the Signing of the Treaty of Ghent, which established lasting peace between America and Creat Britain ; as well as the plan to signalize, in fitting manner, the peace which has existed between the United States, Great Britain and other nations. ^ Happy are the people that find wisdom and the nations that get understanding of one another ; for out of understanding comes friendship, and out of friendship comes peace. "El)e natton tijat krpp?tl| tta utautii anb its tnngnr hpppftl? tta anul from trnublf." "Kfpji tl|g tunguf from ptiU anh tljy UjjB fmm fipraking gutU. Sppart from phU anJi bo gooli; oerk pmtt mxh puv- sm it" By Transfer Nev » .4aiftr The American Committee for the Cel- ebration of the One Huntlrcdth Anniversary of Peace Among English Speaking Peoples 1914-1915 Woodrow Wilson William Howard Taft Thomas R. Marshall Wi'linm G. McAdoo Liiidley M. Garrison lo.-cpluis Daniels David F. Houston William C. Rcdfield William B. Wilson Honorary Chairiiuiii —Theodore Roosevelt Honorary Vicc-Cliainnen William Jennings Br^an Joseph H. Choate Alton B. Parker Elihu Root Adlai E. Stevenson Levi P. Morton Clhiiriiian —Andrew Carnegie Vice-Chairmen Adolphus Bnsch John D. Crimniins Edward F. Dunne Eugene X. Foss Edwin Ginn W'illiam Church Osborn Thomas Nelson Page Daniel Smiley Oscar S. Straus Honorary Secretary—Harry P. Judson Secretary—AndrQw B. Humphrey Executive Committee Honorary Chairman—Charles W. Fairbanks Hono rary V ice-Chairmen Richard Bartholdt Jacob H. Schiff Martin H. Glynn Theodore E. Burton Emmett O'Xeal Herman Ridder Oswald West Honorary Secretary—J. Horace McFarhnd Chairman—John A. Stewart Vice-Chairmen Tosephus Daniels Theodore Marburg W. O. Hart Secretary—WiUiam H. Short Finance Committee Chair)nan—Cornelius Vanderbilt rice-Chairman—William Curtis Demorest Honorary Treasurer—Lyman J. Gage Treasurer—James L.'Wandling Auditing Committee Chairman—Robert C. Morris Depository—J. P. Morgan & Co. Headquarters: 50 Church Street, New York I — Foreword THE movement adequately and prop- perly to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of the ratification of the Ghent Treaty in 191 5, which began informally in 1906, assumed a public status on February 20th, 1910, through the organization of the American Com- mittee for the Celebration of the One Hundredth Anniversary of Peace Among English-Speaking Peoples. As was announced on the day the National Committee was organized, it is the plan of the American Committee, in conformity with the formally-expressed sentiment of the International Confer- ence held in New York, May 5-10, 1913, also properly and adequately to celebrate the century of peace between America and France, Germany, Norway, Swe- den, Holland, and the other great na- tions of the world with which we have never engaged in war. The celebration movement derive? its inspiration and impetus from the fact that, for one hundred years, all disputed questions between America and Great Britain, and, with two exceptions, be- tween America and the other nations of the world, have been settled one by one by means of diplomacy, or arbitration. This achievement is all the more striking when there is taken into consideration the unfortified frontier of 3,840 miles which separates the United States from its Northern neighbor and friend Canada. It is natural, therefore, that there should spontaneously have grown up a desire in America and throughout the British Empire to celebrate this century of peace between two peoples who are kindred in language, law, and institutions. And it was but natural, too, that it should have — mutually occurred to the celebration coniniittees of America aiul the liritish Empire that there should be recogmzetl in some signal and fitting way the peace which has existed as between the Re- public and the Empire, and Germany, France and other nations. It should be said once and for all in response to the misstatements which are being made with reference to the cele- bration, that the committees represent- ing the movement are engaged in no purpose other than that which appears in this pamphlet and other formal docu- ments, and that any other statement is an unqualified and malicious perversion of facts. Equally untrue is any assertion that the Committee represents any [per- son or organization other than itself and its own members. The influence of the Committee is being exerted towards securing the high- est artistic character possible for the monuments which will be erected com- memorating the anniversary. It is de- sired that all American memorials shall, in sentiment and purpose, be less a com- memoration of the past than covenants for the future of present amity and good- will to all mankind It has been said in very truth that The celebration of this anniversary ofifers the best opportunity our age will see for the cultivation of w'orld-wide good-will. The headquarters of the American Committee are at 50 Church Street. New York, where the work of the National Committee is being done through a sub- Executive Committee. John A. Stewart, Chairman. All matters concerning State and local celebrations are in the hands of State and City committees. THE American Committee appeals, (in the light of the unusually drastic provisions which have been made for safeguarding expenditures) for funds which are needed in the carrying out of the National and International pro- gram. Contributions may be sent to Mr. Cor- nelius A^'anderbilt, Chairman Finance Com- mittee, 30 Pine Street, New York, or to the Treasurer, Mr. James L. Wand- ling. Treasurer of the New York Savings Bank, Eighth Avenue and 14th Street, Nev/ York, or in care of J. P. Morgan & Co., Depository, New- York. Plan and Purpose of Movement to Celebrate the One Hundredth Anniversary of Peace Among English Speaking Peoples 1814-'15— 1914-'15 (From Address of Mr. Andrew B. Humphrey) (Mohonk Conference, May, 191 1, Revised) IT is significant that the signing of the Treaty of Ghent on Christmas Eve, 1814, was not brought about by the Commissioners assigned to that duty, for after they had been in conference for nearly six months the two Nations them- selves, forced by a strong pubHc senti- ment among the peoples of both coun- tries demanding peace, directed the Commissioners to conclude a peace pact regardless of the prior claims set forth by the Commissioners and their respect- ive governments. Thus the Ghent treaty was concluded without reference to the issues which brought on the war. The treaty was forced by public sentiment and is a monument to that greater force than war—irresistible public opinion. This same force of public opinion has maintained peace for a century regard- less of treaties and despite the failure of treaties, and has brought about the elim- ination of substantially all the serious causes of irritation between the two countries. The idea of celebrating the century of peace seems to have occurred sponta- neously to many people, and without co- operation. It was first discussed during the administration of former President Roosevelt, and it is probably true tliat through President Roosevelt, Mr. Andrew Carnegie, former Minister MacKenzie King, of Canada. Mr. John A. Stewart. of New York, and the support of the Lake Mohonk Peace Conference, the project of a celebration took organized and definite form. Minister King in an address at the Harvard Commencement of 1909 and again at Lake Mohonk in 1910, urged a celebration of the event. In February, 1910, Mr. Stewart called a meeting in New York City of repre- sentatives of various business, religious and professional organizations, at which a preliminary committee was organized. This committee in turn called a general meeting, which organized The National Committee for the Celebration of the One Hundredth Anniversary of Peace Among English-Speaking Peoples. The Committee chose former Pres- ident Roosevelt for the Honorary Chair- manship and Mr. Andrew Carnegie as Chairman. Their acceptances, as well as those of former Vice-President Fair- banks for the position of Honorary Chairman of the Executive Committee, and of former Vice-Presidents Levi P. Morton and Adlai E. Stevenson, Senator Elihu Root, Mr. William Jennings Bryan, Mr. Alton B. Parker, and former Am- bassador Joseph H. Choate of positions as Honorary Vice-Chairmen, signalized the launching of the movement, and the perfecting of a permanent organization. The membership of the National Com- mittee is rapidly approaching ten thou- sand. Since the essential work of organiza- tion was completed and a full corps of officers and committees was elected, the National Committee has been at work in the development of a definite program.* * In accord with the original plan an "In- ternational Conference" convened in New York City during the week of May 4th, 191 3, and agreed upon a tentative program for the celebration of the Ghent Treaty. In this conference, delegates were present from Great Britain, Canada, Australia. Newfoundland and the United States. His Majesty, the King of England, gave direct sanction to the move- ment, and the President of the United States welcomed the delegates and approved the general plan of the celebration. The proceed- ings of this conference have been published by the Committee in a separate_ pamphlet, which may be had upon application to the Committee at 50 Church Street, New York. — There is every promise aiul expecta- tion that all the leading nations of the world will, in some appropriate manner, and through their own initiative, take such action as will indicate their interest in, and approval of, the event.