Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. IV.djvu/153

THEODORE ROOSEVELT 117 formity through laws relating to patents, copy rights, and trade-marks; chief est of all, however, was the subject of arbitration, as it was also in the succeeding conference, held at Buenos Ayres in July and August four years later. Mr. Roosevelt s message to congress of December, 1905, had laid much stress upon the importance of arbitration as making for international peace, and Mr. Root s journey to South America six months later was undertaken with this object. His intellect, his skill and his address brought about the happiest results. It is too often our uncouth habit to commit our international affairs to hands partially or wholly unversed in the usages of civilization. But even the most well-meaning bull can accomplish but little good in a china shop, and diplomacy is a china shop, if ever there was one. Mr. Root "knew how to behave," if the phrase may be permitted, and he is a proof that our Democracy can produce, even if it be seldom willing to use, men whose train ing is equal to their intelligence. He was chosen honorary president of the conference of Rio de Janeiro. Later he visited Buenos Ayres, Santiago de Chile, Lima, and was guest of the Mexican Government at Mexico in September of the fol lowing year. Some of the results of these journeys were: the extension of the treaty of Mexico (Janu ary 30, 1902) regarding the arbitration of pecuniary claims, signed at Rio de Janeiro August