The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-04-03
juries suffered by their subjects provided that
acquisition Of territory was contemplated.


Both powers assured US In explicit terms
that there was not the slightest Intention
on their part to Violate the principles Of
the Monroe Doctrine, and sthis assurance
was kept with honorable good faith
which merits full ,,acknow ledgments on our
part. AT the same time, the existence OF
hostilities in a region o.near our own
borders was fraught with such possibill-
ties of danger in the future that, 1T was
obviously no less our duty to- ourselves
than our duty @to.humanity endeavor to
put an end to that. Accordingly by an
offer OF sour good services In a. spirit OF
frank friendl;ness to all the parties con-
cerned. a spirit in which they quickly and
cordially responded, we secured re-
of peace-the. contending parties
agreeing that the matters which they
could not settle among themselves should
be referred to The Hague tribunal for
settlement. The United States had most
fortunately already been able to set an
example to other nations by utilizing the
great possibilities for#good contained In
The Hague tribunal. a question at issue
between ourselves and athe Republic Of
Mexico being the first submitted to this
international court, of arbitration. Z
Our Purpose is One Of Benefit.
The terms which we. have secured as
those under which the isthmian canal is
to be built, and the course Of eventssin the
Venezuela. matter, have shown not merely
the ever growing influence of the United
States in the western hemisphere. but
also, Il think I may safely say, have ex-
.emplified 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 republics whose
strength is less. Our growth, therefore,
is beneficial to human kind In general. We
do not intend to assume any position
which can give just offense to our. neigh
rbors. Our adherence. TO the rule of hui
man right is, not merely profession. The
history of our dealings with Cuba shows
that we reduce it to performance.
Not International Law. But May Be.
The Monroe doctrine is not international
law, and though I think one day it may
become such, this is not necessary as
long as IT remains, a cardinal feature Of
our foreign, policy and as long as we pos
sess both the will and the strength to
make it effective. This last point, my
one which, as a people, we can never af-
ford to forget: believe in the Monroe
doctrine with all my heart and SOUL. I
am convinced that the immense majority
of our fellow countrymen so believe in it;
but I would infinitely prefer to see us
abandon it than to see us put it forward
and buster about it, and yet fail to build
up the efficient fighting strength which,
in the last: resort, can alone make it re
spected by:-any strong foreign power
whose interest it may ever happen to be
to violate it ~ 49,. ..-.
1t Must. Be Backed Up.
Boosting and clustering are as objec-
tionable among nations as among individ-
uals, and the public men of a great: ma
ton owe it to their sense of national self
respect to speak courteously Of foreign
powers, just as brave and self-respect-
ing man treats all around him ~courteously
But, :" though to boast is bad, and cause
lesslys to insult another, worse; vet worse
than all is it to be guilty of boasting, even
without insult, and when called to the
proof to be unable to make such boast
ing good: There is ho1nely old adage
which runs: >"Speak softly and carry 9
big stick; YOU will go far" 49,. :. r