The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1901-12-07
MESSAGE.
,cOutinusa srom ars. paS.l

tatu before the senate, ana " approved |
the congress can then proceed to give
effect to the advantages 1t secures US
by providing for the building OF the
canal.
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. The peace conference at The
Hague gave definite expression to this
hope and belief and marked a stride to-
ward their attainment
This same peace conference aequi-
asced in our statement OF the Monroe
| doctrine as compatible with the pur-
poses and aims Of the conference.
The MonrOs doctrine should be the
cardinal feature OF the foreign policy
Of all the nations of the two Americas.
as ii Is Of the United States.
The work OF upbullding the navy
must be steadily continued. No one
point Of our policy. foreign or domestic,
Is more important than this 10 the hon
or and material welfare. and above all
70 the peace. Of our nation in the fu
ture. Whether we desire II or not. We
must heneetorth recognize that We have
International duties no less than inter
national rights. Even II our dag were
hauled down in the Philippines and
Porto Rico, even II We decided not to
build the isthmian canal, We should
need thoroughly trained navy of ade
quate size. or else be prepared definitely
and for all time 10 abandon the idea
hat our nation Is among those whose
sons 60 down 10 the sea in ships. Tn
less our commerce Is always TO be car
RED In foreign bottoms. We must have
war craft 70 protect IL.
Our people intend 10 abide by the
Monroe doctrine and TO insist upon II
as the one sure means o. securing the
peace OF the western hemisphere. The
hayy offers US the only means OF max
ing our insis,ence upon the Monroe doe
trine anything but subject OF der sion
to whatever nation chooses 10 disre
gard II. We desire the peace which
comes as OF right to the just man arm
ed; not the peace granted on terms OF
ignomlny TO the craven and the weak
ling.
There should be no cessation in the
work Of completing our navy.
The American navy must either build
and maintain an adequate navy or else
} make up their minds definitely 10 ac-
cepL secondary position In interna-
cional affairs, not merely in political
but in commercial, matters. II Ia,
been well said that there Is no surer
way 81 counting national disaster than
20 be opulent, aggressive. and IN
armed"
Our Army.
IL Is not necessary TO Increase our
army beyond It's present size al "a ;
time. But 1t - necessary TO keep 1t a
the highest point OF efficiency
The proportion OF our cavalry regi
ments has wisely been Increased
A system should De adopted by which
there shall be an elimination grade BY
grade OF those who seem unit 10 render
the best service In the next grade. Jus
,ice TO the veterans OF the Civil var
who are stil In the army would seem
10 require that In the matter Of retire
met sthey be given by law the same
privileges accorded To their comrades
in the navy.
Every effort should BE- made 10 bring
the army TO a constantly increasing
state Of efficiency.
Action should be taken In reference
to the militia and to the raising Of vol
unteer forces Our militia Law ls Obso-
lets and worthless. The organization
> and armament OF the National Guard
Of the several states, which are treated
a. militia in the appropriations BY the
: congress. should be made identical with
those provided for the regular forces.
Our veterans.
No other citizens deserve 20 we'll Of
the republic as the veterans, the sur
yivors oi those who saved the Union
q They did this one deed which II left
, und0us would have meant that ali else
In our history went for nothing Bu.
: for their steadtast prOwess in the great
ess sis OF our history. all our annals
would be meaningless, and our great
experiment in popular freedom and
selfgOvernment gloomy IA lure
Moreover they not only left US a united
nation, but they left Us also as a herr.
tage the memory Of the mighty deeds
by which the nation was kept united
We are now indeed one nation. one 10
fact AZ we'll a. in name We are united
In our devotion to the dag which E..
the symbol Of national greatness aud
unity; and the very completeness Of
our uA.on enables us all. In every parg
Of the country. to glory IN the yalor
shown alike by the sons Of the north
and the sons Of the south In the times
that tried mems souls.
CIviI service.
The merit system Of making appoint
NETS Is in It's essence as democratic and
American as the common school system
itself
Wherever the conditions have permit
ted the application Of the merit sys
TEN in its fullest and widest sense. the
gain to the government has been i'm
mense. The nayy.yards and postal
service illustrate. probably better than
any other branches Of the government
the great gain in economy. efficiency
and honesty due 10 the enforcement OF
this principle.
| recommend the passage OF a law
which will extend the classified service
TO the Digtrict of COIumhfa mr. will Mt