The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-12-06

NdnLdR6S 10 L1OSc dCCEQ lAS " So
eminent cable may be secured TO the
government by contract with a private
cable company.
Importance of Canal
No single great material work which
remains to be undertaken on this con-
tinent is of such consequence to the
American people as the building of a
canal across the isthmus connecting
North and South America. It's import
ance to the nation is by no means lin
tied merely to it's material effects upon
our business prosperity; and yet with
a view to these effects alone it would
be to the last degree Important for US
Immediately to begin It. While its BEN
eficial effects would perhaps be most
marked upon the Pacific coast and the
Gulf and South Atlantic states. It
would also greatly benefit other Sec
tions. 1t is enphatically a work which
it IS for the interest of the entire coun-
try TO begin and complete a. soon as
possible; it is one of those great works
which only a great nation can under
take with prospects of success, n
which lei done are not only perma-
e assets in the nations material in
t~erestS, but standing monuments to its
constructive ability.
I am glad to be able to to
you that u negotiations on this sub
ject with Great Britain, conducted on
both sides in a spirit OF friendliness and
mutual good will and respect. have re-
suited in my being able to lay before
the senate a treaty which If ratified
will enable us to begin preparations
for an isthmian canal at any time, and
which guarantees to his nation every
right that it has ever asked IN
ton with the canal. In this treaty, the
old Clayton-Bulwer treaty, so long
recognized as inadequate to supply the
base for the construction and mainte-
nance of n necessarily American ship
canal, is abrogated. 1t specifically pro-
vides that the United States alone shall
do the work Of building and the
responsibility of safeguarding the canal
and shall regulate its neutral use by
all nations on terms of equality without
the guaranty or interference of any out
side nation from any quarter. The
signed treaty will at once be laid before
the senate. and if approved the con-
gress can then proceed to give effect
to the advantages it secures uc by pro-
viding for h building of the canal.
The Hague Peace Conference
The true end of every great and free
people should be self-respecting peace;
and this nation most earnestly desires
sincere and cordial friendship with all
others. Over the entire world, of re-
cent years, wars between the great
civilized powers have become less and
less frequent. Wars with barbarous or
~semi-barbarOus people come in an en-
tirely different category, being merely
a most regrettable but necessary in
~ternatiOnaI police duty which must be
performed for the sake of the welfare
of mankind. Pease can only be kept
with certainty where both sides wish
to keep it; but more and more the civil
jZP6 npnnlp arc roaliz;nO the wicked
folly Of war and are attaining that o
ditiOn of just and intelligent regard fol
the rights of others which will in the
end, as we hope and believe, make
worldwide peace possible. The peace
conference at The Hague gave definite
expression to this hope and belief anC
marked a stride toward their attain.
ment.
This same peace conference acquiesc.
ed in our statement of the Monroe Doc
trine as compatible with the purpose
and aims of the conference.
Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe doctrine should be thu
cardinal feature of the foreign policy
Of all the nations of the two Americas
as it is of the United States. Just sew
enty-eight years have passed since
President Monroe in his annual mes
sage announced that the American
COIlllIlcIlS are DGIlCGlOI ii IlOl W DS Gull
Sidered as subjects for future %coloniz
ton by any European power" In Othe
words, the Monroe doctrine Is a declar
alton that there must be no territorial
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT by any nOn-Americal
power at the expense of any American
power on American soil. 1t is IN no wis
intended as hostile to any nation il
the Old World. Still less is it intende'
to give cover to any aggression by on
New World power at the expense of an,
other. It is simply q step, and a lonI
step. toward assuring the universe
peace Of the world by securing the pos
Sibility of permanent peace on thi
hemisphere.
During the past century other in
fuences have established the perma
hence and independence of the smalle
states of Europe. Through the Monro
doctrine we hope to be able to safe
guard like independence and secure lik
permanence for the lesser among tn
New World nations.
This doctrine has nothing to do wit
the commercial relations Of any Amer
lean power, save that it in truth al
lows each of them to form such as
desires. In other words, it Is really
guaranty of the commercial indepen
dence of the Americas We do not asl
under this doctrine for any exClusiv
commercial dealings with any othe
III ISC VIZ w nv SNOA
any state against punishment if it mis-
conducts itself. provided that punish
ment does not take the form of the &C
QUESTION OF territory by any non
American power.
Our attitude in Cuba is a sufflcier
guaranty of our W good faith. w
have mo- the slightest desire to secur
any territory at the expense of any c
our neighbors. We wish to work wit
them hand in hand. so hat all of U
may be uplifted together. and we re
joice owe the good fortune of any {
them, we gladly nail their materis
prosperity and political stability. an
are concerned and alarmed if any {
them fall into industrial or polite;
chaos. We do not wish to see any Oh
World military power grow UP on TIL
continent. or to be compelled to becon
a military power ourselves. The people
of the Americas can prosper best if le
to work out their own salvation in the
own way.
The work Of u~pbuiIding the nav
must be steadily continued. No or
point of our policy, foreign or domesti
is more important than this to tt