The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1901-11-15
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
Jon MONROEISM
Will Take Stand Against
EurOvean EnCrOachment
Of Any Kind

OF America. either by direct acquisi
ton or by the purchase Of coaline
stations Is to be one Of the keynotea
Of President Roosevelt's message 70
congress.
The president is to have somethins
70 say about the Monroe doctrine, and
no will speak in no uncertain words
He intends to reafflrm the vital prin
ciple of Monroeism and to apply It to
modern conditions IN the presidents
opinion consistent enforcement Of
the Monroe doctrine requires the
United States to object to the estab-
lishment Of foreign naval stations in
the special sphere OF American inter
est and influence--namely the West
indies. the Caribbean sea and the 18th
mus OF Darien.
On account OF the acquisition by
the United States of Porto Rico, our
suzerainty over Cuba, our contemplat-
ed purchase OF the Dar.ish islands in
the West Indies and the moral certain
ty that sooner or later the United
States will dig an isthmian canal the
interests of the United States in that
region assume paramountcy over
those of all other powers. The West
indies and the isthmus are. in other
words. zone of American special in
terest, and the Caribbean is an Amer
ican sea.
To safeguard the rights of the Uni
ted States in this region, with an ulti-
mate view to protection Of the canal
is a purpose near TO the heart of
President Roosevelt. Hence his reaf-
flrnIation Of the Monroe doctrine, and
hence his desire so to state his posi-
tion that foreign governments may
read between the lines and under
stand that naval stations are not TO
be had within striking distance Of the
proposed canal without mourning the
dispieasure of the United States.
The United States is undertaking
great responsibility in the isthmus.
At proposes to construct canal cost
ing at least s20O,OOO.OOO, and perhaps
$500. 100000. II undertakes to keep
thni waterway open to the ships of all
nations, on equal terms, in times OF
peace. In war times it naturally will
have TO defend the canal as part of
its coast line, as a central feature of
its scheme of national defense. Hence
it would be foolishly short-slghted of
the United States to permit other
great powers 10 secure strong foot
hold In the Immdiete neighborhood OF
the canal. It is not the intention of
the United ESTATES to permit any
such footholds to be secured.
The policy which the president is
about to declare means nothing that
can reasonably be construed as an
unfriendly disposition toward any
foreign power His language, while
of unmistakable significance. will be
carefully chosen, with view TO avoid
giving offense. Even II there were
no such thing as a Monroe doctrine In
existence. still the United States
would be justified according to the
usages Of nations, in adopting just
such measures of selfprotectlon.
This Is true because the interests Of
the United States IN the sthmus ana
the ada ent lands and waters are al
most infinitely superior to those Of
other powers
Whatever may be said about lower
South America which In comparison
: with this held OF special interest
nearer our shores may be regarded
almost as a negligible quantity the
isthmus Is about to become virtually
a part OF the coast line Of the United
States The United States does not
propose to seize territory thore. unless
such seizure should become necessary
for its protection or for properly car
ryiag out It's great purpose but it can
not in justice to itself o. the great
internationel trusteeship which it is
undertaking permit European powers
20 entrench themselves therein.
From the strategic and military point
OF view such territory must virtually
be regarded as already belonging to
the United States
Doubtless the presidenrs p utteraaces
on this question will rouse fierce criti-
cism in some parts Of Europe not in
England. but on the continent Such
criticism appeared when Colonel
Roosevelt at Minneapolis. a few days
before fate called him TO the presi
dency. declared.
"The DATED States must not shrink
from playing It's part among the great
nations We can not avoid hereafter
having duties 20 do IN the face Of