Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-12-05

tnlS comment is Oh SuCn consequence
to the American people as the build
ing of canal across the isthmus con-
Meeting North and South America. 1t
is emphatically work which IL is for
the interest of the entire country to
begin and complete as soon as possi-
Bile. | am glad TO be able to announce
to you that our negotiations on this
subject with Great Britain have result
ed in my being able to lay before the
senate treaty which, if ratified, will
enable us to begin preparations for
an isthmian canal at any time and
which guarantees to this nation every
right that it has ever asked in con-
nection with the canal.
The Monroe Doctrine.
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. Our at
titude in Cuba is a sufficient guarantee
of our own good faith. We have not
the slightest desire to secure any ter
ritory at the expense of any of our
neighbors. We wish to work with
them hand in hand. so that all of us
may be uplifted together and we re-
joice over the good fortune of any of
them, we gladly nail their material
prosperity and political stability and
are concerned and alarmed if any of
them fall into industrial or political
chaos. We do not wish to see any old
world military power grow up on this
continent, or to be sssnlpelled to be
come military power ourselves. The
peoples of the Americas can prosper
best if left to work out their, own sal
walton in their own way
The Navy and Army.
The work of uplifting the navy must
be steadily continued. 1t is impera-
tive that it should be put and kept in
the highest sta-e of efficiency, and
should be made TO answer our grow
ing needs. An adequate and highly
trained navy is the best guarantee
against war, the cheapest and most
effective peace insurance.
Probably no other great nation in the
world is so anxious for peace as we
are. There is not single civilized
power which has anything whatever
to fear from aggressiveness on our
part. All we want is peace; and to-
ward this end we wish to be able to
secure the same respect for our rights
from others which we are eager and
anxious to extend to their rights III re-
turn, to insure fair treatment to us
/ commercially. and to guarantee the
safety of the American people.
Our people intend to abide by the
Monroe doctrine and to insist upon it
as the one sure means of securing the
peace of the Western Hemisphere.
| 1t is not necessary to increase our
army beyond it's present size at this
time But it is necessary to keep it
at the highest point of efficiency.
The Merit System.
| The merit system of making appoint
ments is in its essence as democratic
\ and American as the common Schoo
system itself Wherever the condi
tons have permitted the application
of the merit system in its fullest ant
widest extent, the gain to the govern
ment has been immense. Not an OF
flee should be filled in the Philippines
on Porto Rico with any regard to the
mans partisan Affiliations, or services
with any regard to the political. socia
or personal influence which he ma!
4 have had at his command; in shor
! heed should be paid to absolutel.
nothing save the mans own charac
ter ana capacity and the needs of thu
service. The merit system is slnpl.
one method of securing honest and eff
ficient administration of the govern
ment; and in the long run the sole
justification of any type of govern
ment lies in its proving itself boil
honest and efficient
4 Consular Service-The Indian.
l The consular service is now organ
lied under the provisions of a Law
passed in 1856. which is entirely mad
equate to existing conditions. 1t il
true that the service is now, in tn,
main, efficient, but a standard of eX
cellence cannot be permanently main
tanned until the principles set fort
in the bills heretofore submitted t,
congress on this subject are enacte,
into law.
In my judgment the time has t,rriy
ed when we should definitely make u,
our minds TO recognize the Indian a
an individual and not as a membe
OF tribe.
Miscellaneous.
: The latter part of the message cor
tanned the recommendation that tn
: census office be made permanen
government bureau, reference to tn
: remarkable growth of the postal SCI
vice, the interest this country has i
what ever happens in China, wor
or two of communication for the Louis
, lana Purchase Exposition and tn
| Charleston Exposition; and the las