The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-12-03


nent is OF such consequences TO the Ameri-
can people as the building OF a canal
across the isthmus connecting North and
South America. Its importance To the
nation is by no means limited merely
10 IFS material effects upon our business
prosperity: and yet with view TO these
effects alone II would be TO the last
degree important for us Immediately 20
begin II. While it's beneficial effects would
perhaps be most marked upon the Pacific
coast and the Gulf and South Atlantic
states, II would also greatly benefit other
sections. IL is emphatically work which
II Is for the interest Of the entire country
10 begin and complete as soon as possible;
II is one OF those great works which only
| ereat nation can undertake with pros
poets OF success, and which when done
are not only permanent assets in the ma
tons material interests. but standing
monuments 10 its constructive ability
am glad TO be able TO announce 10 you
that our negotiations on this subject with
Great Britain, conducted on both sides in
a spirit OF friendliness and mutual good
VIII and respect. have resulted In my
being able TO lay before the senate q
treaty which IL ratified will enable us TO
begin preparations for an Isthmian canal
At any time, and which guarantees 10
THIS nation every right that IL has ever
asked In connection with the canal.
In this treaty, the old Clayton Bulwer
treaty, so long recognized as inadequate
tn supply the base for the construction
ana maintenance OF a necessarily Ameri-
can ship canal, Is abrogated. IL specifi-
cally provides that the United States
alone shall do the work of building and
assume 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 outside nation from any quarter.
| The signed treaty will at once be laid
before the senate, and II approved the
congress can then proceed 10 give effect
| to the advantages IL secures us by provid-
ing for the building Of the canal
MONROE DOCTRINE.
Tho true end OF every great and free
f, people should be self-respecting peace,
| and this nation most earnestly desires
| sincere and cordial friendship with all
others. over the entire world, Of recent
| years. wars between the great civilized
powers have become less and less fire.
| duent. Wars with barbarous or semi
parbarous peoples come in an entirely
/ different category. being merely a most
regrettable but necessary international
police duty. which must be performed for
the sake OF the welfare of mankind. Peace
can only be Kept with certainty where
both sides wish To keep 1t. but more and
more the civilized peoples are realizing
| the wicked folly Of war and are attaining
| that condition of Just and intelligent re-
| gard for the rights OF others which will
In the end. as We hope and believe. make
world wide peace possible. The peace
| conference at The Hague gave definite
expression to this hope and belief and
| marked stride toward their attainment.
! This same peace conference acauesced
| In our statement OF the Monroe doctrine
| as compatible with the purposes and
| aims OF the conference.
1 The Monroe doctrine should be the car
1 dinal feature OF the foreign policy OF all
| the ma tons of the two Americas, as IL
is nf the Limited States. Just seventy
| eight years have passed since President
| Monroe In his annual message announced
| that The American continents are hence
| forth not 10 be considered as subjects for
| future colonization by any European pow
I err" In other words. the Monroe doc
| trine is a declaration that there must be
no territorial ACKNOWLEDGMENT by any
| non-American power at the expense OF
| any American power on American soil.
| IL is I'm no wise intended as hostile TO
any nation in the old World still less
| gression by one New World power al the
| expense OF any other II is simply
| step. and long step. toward assuring
| the universal peace OF the world by se-
| curing the possibility OF permanent peace
on this hemisphere.
| SAFEGUARD FOR INDEPENDENCE.
During the past century other influences
| have established the permanence aud In
/ dependence OF the smaller states of Eu-
rope. Through the Monroe doctrine We
! hope 10 be able 10 safeguard like inde-
| pendence and secure like permanence for
the lesser among the New World nations.
| This doctrine has nothing TO do with the
commercial relations of any American
| power. save that II In truth allows each
! OF them To form such as IL desires. In
| other words. 1t is really guaranty of
| the commercial Independence of the
| Americas. We do not ask under this
| doctrine for any exclusive commercial
| dealings with any other American state.
| We do not guarantee any state against
| punishment IL IL misconducts itself, pro-
| vided that punishment does not take the
| form Of the acquisition or territory by
| any non-American power.
Our attitude in Cuba Ia sunicent
| guaranty of our own good faith. We
| have not the slightest desire 10 secure any
\ territory at the expense OF any or our
neighbors. We wish to work with them
| hand 10 hand, so that all OF us may be
| uplifted together. and we rejoice over the
| good fortune of any OF them. We gladly
| hail their material prosperity and .politi-
cal stability, and are concerned and
| trial or political chaos. We do not wish
! To see any Old World military power
| grow up on this continent. or 10 he com
| pelled TO become military power our
selves The peoples of the Americas can
| prosper best II left TO work our their own
salvation In their own way.
UPBuTLDING THE NAVY.
The work Of upbuiIding the navy must
| he yrrunftv continued one point ef
our policy. foreign or domestic. is more
/
| material welfare. and above all 10 the
| peace. OF our nation i'm the future.
| Whether we desire IL or not, We must
| henceforth recognize that we have inter
| national duties no less than international
| rights. Even n our flag were hanled
| down I'm tho Philippines aud Porto Rico,
| even II we decided not to build the 18th
| mian canal. we should need thoroughly
| trained navy OF adequate size. or else
| he pared definitely and for all time
| 10 abandon the idea that our nation is
| among those whose sons 40 down 10 the
| sea I'm ships. Unless our commerce rs
| always 20 he carried I'm foreign Bottoms,
| We must have war craft TO protect IL.
| Inasmuch. however as the American
| people have no thought OF abondontng
| the nath upon which they have entered.
| and especially IN view of the fact that
| the building ~ the lsthmian canal is fast
, becoming one of the matters which the
| whole people are united IN demanding. II
| H. impera tive that our navy should be plt
| and kept I'm the highest state OF eni-
! cheney and should be made TO answer 10
! our growing needs. So far from being
| IN any way provocaton To- war, an
! adequate and highly trained navy Is the
best guaranty against war. tho cheapest
! aud most effective peace Insurance. The
1 cost of btfldfuE aud maintaining such n