The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1903-04-11
ON MONROE DOCTRINE
President Roosevelt Discusses Prin-
ciple and What It Involves.
Its Rearing on the Panana Canal
Explains Attitude Toward the
vesesuesan A3air - Urges
Claims Of the Navy.

address delivered at Chicago. April .. l9Os.)
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies, and Gentle
men:
Ever since the time when we
definitely extended our boundaries
westward to the Pacific and south
ward to the gulf, since the time when
the old Spanish and Portuguese col
onies to the south of us asserted
their independence, our nation has
insisted that because of its primacy
in strength among the nations of the
western hemisphere it has certain
duties and responsibilities which
oblige it to take leading part
thereon. We hold that our interests
in this hemisphere are greater than
those of any European power posi-
bly, can be, and that our duty to our
selves and to the weaker republics
who are our neighbors requires us to
see that none of the great military
powers from across the seas shall
encroach upon the territory of the
American republics or acquire con-
troll thereover.
This policy, therefore, not only
forbids us to acquiesce in such terri
tOrial acquisition, but also causes US
to object to the requirement of a
control which would in it's effect be
equal to territorial ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
This is why the United States has
steadily believed that the construc-
ton of the great Isthmian canal, the
building of which is to stand as the
,ata NJ ~ kn
tieth century-greater than any sim
liar feat in any preceding century
should be done by no foreign nation
but by ourselves. The canal must Of
necessity go through the territory
of one of our smaller sister repub-
lies. We have been scrupulously
careful to abstain from perpetrating
any wrong upon any of these repub-
lies in the matter. We do not wish
to interfere with their rights in the
least; but, while carefully safeguard
ing them, to build the canal ourselves
under provisions which will enable
ms, IL necessary, to police and protect
1t, and to guarantee its neutrality,
we being the sole guarantor. Our in
tenticn was steadfast; we desired ac-
tion taken so that the canal could
always be used by us in time of
peace and war alike, and in time
of war could never be used to our
detriment by any nation which was
hostile to us.
After considerably more than half
of a century these objects have been
exactly fulfilled by the legislation
and treaties of the last two years.
About the same time trouble arose
in connection with the republic Of
Venezuela because of certain wrongs
alleged to have been committed, and
citizens of various foreign powers.
notably England, Germany and Italy.
After failure to reach an agreement
these powers began blockade of the
Venezuelan coast and n condition of
quasi-war ensued. The concern OF
our government was of course not to
interfere needlessly in any quarrel
so far as il did not touch our inter-
csts or our honor, and not to take
the attitude of protecting from coer-
cion any power unless we were will
ing to espouse the quarrel of that
power, but to keep an attitude of
watchful vigilance and see that there
was no infringement of the Monroe
doctrine-no requirement of terri
torial rights by European power at
the expense of weak sister repub-
lic-whether this acquisition might
take the shape of an outright and
avowed seizure of territory or of the
exercise of control which would in
effect be equivalent to such seizure.
The terms which we have secured
as those under which the Isthmian
canal is to be built, and the course OF
events i'm the Venezuela matter, have
shown not merely the ever growing
influence of the United States in the
western hemisphere. but also. / think
/ may safely say, have exemnlified
the firm purpose of the United States
that its growth and influence and
power shall rebound not to the harm
but to the benefit of our sister repub-
lies whose strength is less. Our
growth. therefore, is beneficial to
human kind in general.
There is homely old adage which
runs: Speak softly and carry big
stick; you will go far" If the
American nation will speak softly,
and yet build, and keep at a pitc'
of the highest training, thorough
ly efficient navy, the Monroe doctrine
will go far.
Well, in the last two years i am
happy to say we have taken long
strides in advance as regards our
navy. The last congress. in addition
to smaller vessels, provided nine OF
those formidable fighting ships upon
which the real efficiency of any navy
in war ultimately depends. 1t pro-
vided. moreover, for the necessary
addition of officers and enlisted men
to make the ships worth having.
America's Railway Inventions.
This country invented the parlor,
sleeping and dining cars, the pressed
steel freight car, and many Of the
best )features of the modern locomo-