Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-09-04
poes ReeseyeIt Want War 2

President Roosevelt spoke at Rut-
land, Vt, Monday, and devoted his
brief remarks to the Monroe Doctrine.
He said; it3i l,aF3
We believe in tho Monroe Doctrine,
notias y paeans of aggression at all, 4 1t
does not mean that We are aggressive
toward any power. 1t means merely
that Us the biggest power on this con-
ttnent wo remain stead firstly true to
the principles first formulated under
the presidency OF Monroe, through John
Quincy Adams==the- principle that this
continent must not be treated as a sub
iect for political colonization by any
European power. S
las 1 say, that is not an aggressive
doctrine. 1t Is doctrine of peace. a
doctrine OF defence, doctrine to secure
the chance on this continent for the
United Stutes here to develop peace
| ably along their own lines. Now we
| have formulated that doctrine. II our
formulation consists simply of state.
/ ments on the stump or on paper they
are not worth the breath that utters
them or the paper on which they are
written. Remember that the Monroe
doctrine will be respected as long as
we. hayesa tirst-class efficient navy aud
not very. much longer.
| In private life he who asserts some
thing, says what he is going to do and
does not haok 1t up, Is always O con-
temptible creature, and, as a nation,
| the last thing we can. afford to do is TO
| takc q position which we do not intend
to try to make, good. Dragging and
Boosting in private life arc almost
always tho signs of weak man, and a
nation that is strong does not need to
have ito public men boast or brag on
its account, Least Of all does q self
respecting nation wish Its public repre-
sentativeS to threaten or menace oil
insult another power 81
Our,attitude toward all powers must
be ono Of such dignifled courtesy and
respect as we intend that they sbal
show Us in return. We must be willing
to give the friendly regard that wt
exact from them. We must no more
wrong them than we must submitrtS
wrong,doing' by them, but when W.
take position let us remember thai
our holding depends upon ourselves
depends upon our showing that W.
have the ability to hold it.
Shame to us il We assert the Monro'
Doctrine and then il our assertion shall
be called in question show that w
have only made an idle boast, that ",
, are not prepared to back up our word
by deeds.
What does President Roosevelt meal
by this kind of talk? Is be bidding
, defiance TO the world on the other sid
! of the ocean, Does he banker after
} foreign war? rex 5ak rf4 hHl t
The. Monroe Doctrine, as 1t is called
/ was enunoiated 70 years ago mex
+ December, long before President Roose
$ velt was born. 1t has stood unchai
lenged ever since, regardless OF tn
I condition Of our navy. 1t was no
t seriously challenged even when To
o country was in thethroes Of might
b civil conflict, with all. its energies de
5 voted to the settlement of the issue
d therein involved. = Is there the slightes
i probability that it will be seriousl
S challenged now, when our country is 9
o peace; when tits more powerful thu
b ever before; when its navy is iargt
o than it ever was, and only recent
d demonstrated what itoould do in Ii
1t actual naval warfare of modern time:
it There is chip on the shoulder
s. suggestion in President Roosevelt
10 remarks with reference to the .Monrt
II Doctrine and our being ever ready
maintain it. Thus far it has mai,
l. tanned itself. Should the time ev,
" arrive when the country finds itse
d compelled to maintain it by the for
&c of arms, there can be no doubt Of j
l. ability to do So. Meanwhile, we cf
is afford to let 1t stand for itself, as
le has successfully stood for SO maj
Ig years, without shouting forth intim
ie tions of CORY war in its behalf.