As we are in Cincinnati, the home of President Taft, who has rendered such
noble service in the cause of peace, I will dictate a statement for the
people of Cincinnati and America generally. In the Orient I was informed
that there are many lovers of peace in America. Therefore, I left my
native land to associate here with those who are the standard-bearers of
international conciliation and agreement. Having traveled from coast to
coast, I find the United States of America vast and progressive, the
government just and equitable, the nation noble and independent. I
attended many meetings where international peace was discussed and am
always extremely happy to witness the results of such meetings, for one of
the great principles of Baha'u'llah's teachings is the establishment of
agreement among the peoples of the world. He founded and taught this
principle in the Orient fifty years ago. He proclaimed international
unity, summoned the religions of the world to harmony and reconciliation
and established fellowship among many races, sects and communities. At
that time He wrote Epistles to the kings and rulers of the world, calling
upon them to arise and cooperate with Him in spreading these principles,
saying that the stability and advancement of humanity could only be
realized through the unity of the nations. Through His efforts this
principle of universal harmony and agreement was practically demonstrated
in Persia and other countries. Today in Persia, for instance, there are
many people of various races and religions who have followed the
exhortations of Baha'u'llah and are living together in love and fellowship
without religious, patriotic or racial prejudices--Muslims, Jews,
Christians, Buddhists, Zoroastrians and many others.
America has arisen to spread the teachings of peace, to increase the
illumination of humankind and bestow happiness and prosperity upon the
children of men. These are the principles and evidences of divine
civilization. America is a noble nation, the standard-bearer of peace
throughout the world, shedding light to all regions. Foreign nations are
not untrammeled and free from intrigues and complications like the United
States; therefore, they are not able to bring about universal harmony. But
America--praise be to God!--is at peace with all the world and is worthy of
raising the flag of brotherhood and international agreement. When this is
done, the rest of the world will accept. All nations will join in adopting
the teachings of Baha'u'llah revealed more than fifty years ago. In His
Epistles He asked the parliaments of the world to send their wisest and
best men to an international world conference which should decide all
questions between the peoples and establish universal peace. This would be
the highest court of appeal, and the parliament of man so long dreamed of
by poets and idealists would be realized. Its accomplishment would be more
far-reaching than the Hague tribunal.
I am most grateful to President Taft for having extended his influence
toward the establishment of universal peace. What he has accomplished in
making treaties with various nations is very good, but when we have the
interparliamentary body composed of delegates from all the nations of the
world and devoted to the maintenance of agreement and goodwill, the
utopian dream of sages and poets, the parliament of man, will be realized.