The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-12-05

taucc To- the nation Is 10y no means linn
tied merely to ifs material effects upon
our business prosperity and yet with q
/ view to these effects alone ii would be
TO the last degree important for MS I'm
mediatcly 60 hreln IT, While IFS hcnc.
fetal effects would perhaps be- most
marked upon the Pacific coast and the
gulf and South Atlantic states. 20 would
also great, lrncu other sections. II
Is cmphat..all q work which u is for
the Interest of the entire country 20 be-
gin and complete 81, soon ls possible.
! am glad to be- able to announce to
You that our negotiations ON this sub
jcct with Grcat Britain. conducted on
both Sides Zoo 20 spirit Il fricudiincss aud
mutual good win have resulted In
my being able to lay before the sen
ate treaty which. it, ratified viii en-
able us to begin preparations for an
isthmian ,arnl m amy time and which
guarantees to this nation every right
that il has ever asked in connection
with the canal IL specifically pro-
vidcs that tie pitcl States alone shall
do the work OF building aud assume
the responsibility OF Safeguarding The
canal aud shall regulate lbs neutral use
by an nations op Terms of equality
without a." guarantee CO. interference
Of any outside nation from any quarter.
The Nonror portrinc.
The Moug0, doctrine should be- the
cardinal feature a. the foreign policy
Of all the nation, Il the two Americas.
as II is of the United State, De- Non
roe doctrine is d clara'.on that there
must be- no territorial aggraHd'lcmcnt
10y any non. American power m fhc eN-
pcuSe Of any American power ou Amer
lean soil II Is la noWisc Intended rs
hostile to any nation iu toe old world.
Still less is 10 intended 10 give cover to
any aggression 10y one new world power
az the expense Of any other II is sim
ply "A step, aud lorg step. toward as
surfing the universal peace Of the world
10y securing the possibility OF perma-
nent peace on this hemisphere
During thc past century other inhu-
enccs have established thc permanence
and Independence Of the smaller states
Of Europe Through thc Monroe doc
triuc We hope 10 Dee able o. safeguard
like independence and secure like per
mancnce for thr lesser among the new
world nations
This doctrine ha, nothing To- do with
the commercial relations of any Amer
lean power save that IL in truth allows
each Of them 90 form such MS II desires.
In other words. IL .s really guarantee
Of the commercial independence of the
Americas We do uoi ASK under this
doctrine for any exclusive commercial
dealings with any other American
state We do NOT guarantee any state
against punishment 10 IL misconducts
itself. provided that punishment does
not take the form Of thc acquisition OF
territory by any uon-American power.
our attitude in cuba Is sufficient
guarantee Of our own good faith. We
have not the slightest desire 10 secure
any territory at the expense Of any Of
our neighbors.
The Navy.
The president dcvotcs considerable
space 10 the navy. The upbuIldng Of
which. hc saws. should hc steadily con
tlnucd The navy offers H.. it's declar-
ed. the only means Il insisting on the
n a. is
the bcst guarantee against war He
recommend. that provision bee made
not only for more ships. hut for more
men Four thousand additional sea
men aud lW1 additional marines
Should be- provided. as well aS an in
crcn>e in officers After indorsIng The
naval militia forces thc president says:
But in addition wc should al once
provide for q national naval reserve.
organized AMI trained under the direc.
ton of the navy department AMI sub
iect to the call Of the chief executive
whenever war becomes imminent II
should be a real auxiliary TO the naval
seagoing peace establishment and offer
IliIfIHl 10 Ih' ut W IT VII 'A 'A'N ~
manning our ships IN time OF war.
The Army.
II Is not necessary TO increase our
army beyond lis present size at this
time. hut II is necessary to keep ii at
the highest point Of efficiency. The In
dlvidual units who as officers and en-
listed men compose this army are, we
have good reason to believe, at least as
efficient a. those Of any other army in
the entire world 1t is our duty to see
that their trimming Is of a Kind TO in
sure the highest possible expression of
power to these units when acting in
combination.
A general stan should he created.
Promotions should be made solely
with regard to the good Of the service.
Congress ought to provide, the pres-
dent adds. for field exercises. He con
tinues
Action should be taken in reference
TO the militia and to the raising Of vol
unteer forces. Our militia law is OBJ
s0cte and worthless The organization
and armament OF the national guard Of
the several states. which are treated
as militia In the appropriations by the
congress. should be made identical with
those provided for the regular forces
The obligations and duties Of the guard
In time OF war should be carefully de-
fined and a system established by law
under which the method Of procedure
of raising volunteer forces should be
prescribed in advance
The Merit system.
The president lndorses the merit sys-
tenn Of making appointments and says:
recommend the passage Of law
which will extend the classified serv-
ice to the District Of Columbia or-will
at least enable the president thus to ex-
tend 1t. In my judgment all laws pro-
viding for the temporary employment
of clerks should hereafter contain
nroYision that they be selected under
.ii9 "ivp s7rvto1 ;o--