Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1901-12-06

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
canal across the isthmus connecting
North and South America. It's impor-
lance to the nation is by no means lin
tied merely to its 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 i'm |
mediately to begin it. While its bene-
fetal effects would perhaps be most !
marked upon the Pacific coast and the |
gulf and South Atlantic states, it would
also greatly benefit other sections. 1t
is emphatically a work which it is for
the interest of the entire country to be-
gin and complete as soon as possible.
The Monroe doctrine should be the
cardinal feature of the foreign policy
of all the nations of the two Americas.
as it is of the United States. 1t is in
nowise intended as hostile to any ma
ton in the old world. Still less is it
intended to give cover to any aggres-
sion by one new world power at the
expense of any other It is simply a
step, and a long step, toward assuring
the universal peace of the world by Sc
curing the possibility of permanent
peace on this hemisphere.
The president devotes considerable
space to the navy, the upbuilding of
which, he says, should be steadily con-
tinued. The navy offers US, it is declar-
ed, the only means of insisting on the
Monroe doctrine, and a strong navy is
the best guarantee against war. Four
thousand additional seamen and 1000
additional marines should be provided,
as well as an increase in officers. But
in addition we should at once provide
for national naval reserve, organized
and trained under the direction of the
navy department and subject to the
call of the chief executive, whenever
war becomes imminent.
1t is not necessary to increase our
army beyond its present size at this
time, but it is necessary to keep it at
the highest point of efficiency. The in
dividual units who as officers and en-
listed men compose this army are, we
have good reason to believe, at least as
efficient as those of any other army in
the entire world. It is our duty to see
that their training is of kind to in
sure the highest possible expression Of
power to these units when acting in
combination. A general staff should
be created. Promotions should be
made solely with regard to the good
Of the service. Congress ought to pro-
| vide, the president adds, for field ex-
| ercises. Action should be taken in ref
erence to the militia and to the rails
ing of volunteer forces. Our militia
law is obsolete and worthless. The
organization and armament of the ma
tional guard of the several states,
which are treated as militia in the ap-
preparations by the congress, should
be made identical with those provided
for the regular forces.
The president indorses the merit
system Of making appointments and
says it is important to have this sys
TEN obtain at home. but it is even
more important to have it applied
rigidly in our insular possessions.
It is recommended that the census
Office as now constituted should be
made a permanent government bu
reau.
A tribute is paid to the postal serv
ice, and the extension of free rural de
livery is commended The postoffcC
department should be sustained, the
, president says, in it's efforts to remove
} the abuses in connection with seconC
class mail matter.
5 The president concludes his mes
) sage as follows: The dealt
r of Queen Victoria caused III,
/ people of the United States dec
? and heartfelt sorrow, to which tn
/ government gave full expression
r When President Mckinley died, on
+ nation in turn received from ever
Y quarter of the British empire expree
: sions of grief and sympathy no les
: sincere. The death of the Empires
+ Dowager Frederick OF Germany ais
I aroused the genuine sympathy of tn
l. American people, and this sympath
t Gas cordially reciprocated by Gel
: many when the president was assas
+ sinated. In the midst of our Athletic
e we reverently thank the Almight
that we are at peace with the nation
r of mankind, and we firmly intend tha
/ our policy shall be such as to continu
l. unbroken these international relation
a of mutual respect and good will.