The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1901-12-12
the interest of the entire country to be.

the interest Of the entire country to be-
gin and complete as soon as possible.
am glad to be able to announce to
you that our negotiations on this sub
ject with Great Britain. conducted on
both sides In u spirit of friendliness and
mutual good will, have resulted in
my being able to lay before the SEN
ate treaty which, If ratified, will en-
able us to begin preparations for an
isthmian canal at any time and which
guarantees to this nation every right
that 1t has ever asked In connection
| with the canal. 1t specifically pro-
yides 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 guarantee or interference
Of any outside nation from any quarter
The Monroe Doctrine.
| The Monroe doctrine should be the
cardinal feature Of the foreign policy
Of all the nations of the two Americas
roe doctrine Is declaration that there
must be no territorial ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
| by any non-American power at the ex-
pense Of any American power on Amer
lean soil. 1t Is in nowise intended as
hostile to any nation In the old world.
| Still less Is 1t Intended to give cover to
any aggression by one new world power
at the expense Of any other. 1t is SIM
ply step, and a long step, toward as
suring the universal peace of the world
by securing the possibility of perma-
nent peace OIL this hemisphere.
During the past century other inHu-
ences have established the permanence
and independence of the smaller states
az Europe. Through the Monroe doc
trine we hope to be able to safeguard
like independence and secure like per-
manence for the lesser among the new
| world nations.
, This doctrine has nothing to do with
the commercial relations of any Amer
lean power save that 1t In truth allows
each Of them to form such as 1t desires.
In other words, 1t is really guarantee
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 If 1t misconducts
Itself, provided that punishment does
not take the form of the acquisition of
territory by any non-American power.
Our attitude In Cuba Is n sufficient
guarantee of our own good faith. We
have not the slightest desire to secure
any territory at the expense of any of
our neighbors.
The Navy.
The president devotes considerable
space to the navy. the upbullding OF
which, he says. should be steadily con-
tinued. The navy offers us, 1t is declar-
ed, the only means Of Insisting on the
Monroe doctrine. and strong navy Is
the best guarantee against war. He
recommends that provision be made
not only for more ships. but for more
men. -Four thousand additional sea-
men and 1000 additional marines
! should be provided. as well as an In
crease In officers. After indorslng the
naval militia forces the president says:
NSNS as NohAhOh We GuOuiu Ut OnCt
1 provide for national naval reserve.
organized and trained under the dIrec-
tion Of the navy department and sub
Ject to the call of the chief executive
whenever war becomes imminent. 1t
should be real auxiliary to the naval
seagolng peace establishment and offer
material to be drawn on at once for
manning our ships In time of war.
The Army.
1t Is not necessary to increase our
army beyond Its present size at this
time. but 1t Is necessary to keep 1t 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. 1t Is our duty to see
that their training is of kind to in.
sure the highest possible expression of