Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-12-05
TIE MESSAGE.
Continued from 3rd page.)


and the Philippines, to be continued
from the Philippines to points In Asia.
We should not defer a day longer than
necessary the construction Of such
cable. 1t is demanded not merely for
commercial but for political and mill
tary considerations. Either the con-
gress should Immediately provide for
the construction Of a government ca
bic or else an arrangement should be
made by which like advantages to
those accruing from n government ca
BILE may be secured to the government
by contract with a private cable COM
pany.
No single great material work which
remains to be undertaken on this con-
tinent Is of such consequence to the
American people as the building of
canal across the lsthmus connecting
North and South America. Its impor-
lance to the nation is by no means lin
tied merely to it's material effects upon
our business prosperity, and yet with
view to these effects alone 1t would be
to the last degree important for us i'm
mediately to begin 1t. While its benz
fetal effects would perhaps be most
marked upon the Pacific coast and the
gulf and South Atlantic states, 1t would
also greatly benefit other sections. 1t
is emphatically work which 1t Is for
the interest Of the entire country to be-
gin and complete rs soon as possible.
l am glad to be able to announce to
you that our negotiations on this sub
ject with Great Britain. conducted on
both sides in spirit Of friendlncss 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 II has ever asked in connection
with the canal. 1t specifically pro
vides 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 America
as it Is of the United States. The Mon
roe doctrine is a 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 It intended to give cover TO
any aggression by one new world power
at the expense Of any other. 1t is sim.
ply step. and long step. toward as
surfing the universal peace of the world
by securing the possibility Of perma-
nent peace on this hemisphere.
During the past century other infu-
ences have established the perlnanence
and independence Of the smaller states
of 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 witt
the commercial relations Of any Amer
lean power save that it In truth allows
each of them to form such as it 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 n 1t misconduct:
itself, provided that punishment does
not take the form Of the acquisition OF
territory by any non-Amerlcan power
Our attitude in Cuba Is q suff1cieu
guarantee of our own good faith. W.
have not the slightest desire to secure
any territory at the expense Of any Of
our neighbors.
The Navy.
The president devotes considerable
E space to the navy, the upbuilding o
which, he says, should be steadily con
, tinued. The navy offers us, 1t Is declar
: ed, the only means of insisting on tn
Monroe doctrine. and a strong navy i
/, the best guarantee against war. II
recommends that provision be mad
t not only for more ships, but for NOR
men. Four thousand additional sen
, men and 1000 additional marine
| should be provided. as well as an in
crease in officers. After indorsing tn
= naval militia forces the president says
But in addition we should at one
provide for a national naval reserve
organized and trained under the direC
, ton of the navy department and sui
ject to the call Of the chief executiv
; whenever war becomes imminent.
|. should be real auxiliary to the nava
= seagoing peace establishment and offe
material to be drawn on at once 70
/, manning our ships in time Of war.
< The Army.
: 1t is not necessary to increase on
! army beyond its present size at thl
time, but 1t Is necessary to keep 1t q
the highest point Of efficiency. The il
dvidual units who as officers and CT
listed men COMPOSE this army are "