Smyrna times., 1903-04-08

1.-The Presidents address on the
Monroe Doctrine, delivered at Chi
csgO. Thursday evening. was brief, but
by no means perfunctOry, says the
New York Tribune. 1t was, on the
contrary, instinct with frankness and
energy, and had especial emphasis in
the fact of its being largely a review
of the attitude of the Presidents own
administration toward the Doctrine.
There is no eXaggeratiOn in saying
plainly what the President mOdestly
intimates, that il the last two years
or less the position of the United
States in the Western Hemisphere has
been notably strengthened and assur-
ed. Two years ago we were no nearer
an lsthmlan canal under our exclusive
control than we had been for half a
century and more. To-day, by virtue
of two treaties, we are upon the very
threshold of such a canal; one of those
treaties practically implies recogni-
tion of the Monroe Doctrine by one of
the greatest of foreign powers, while
the other confirms our friendly and
benevolent attitude toward our repub-
lican neighbors in this hemisphere
The President is amply justified in
declaring those treaties to be among
the most important we have ever
negotiated in their bearing upon the
future welfare of this country.
'NO less to the point is the Venezu-
ella case, The President gives the text
of state documents which prove that
there was all along an understanding
between this government and the
governments of Great Britain and
Germany, and that these powers gave
satisfactory assurance that there was
no intention on their part to violate
the Monroe Doctrine. In giving assur-
ances that they would not violate the
principles of the Monroe Doctrine
those powers did not erect that doc
trlne into international law, but they
admitted it to be an American policy
which on that occasion at least they
would respect. Every time such
policy is thus respected it becomes
more probable that it will also be re.
spected the next time it comes into an
issue. "A precedent, says Disraeli,
'embalms principle Certainly re-
peated precedents establish a princi-
pie, and the essential principles of the
Monroe Doctrine are ali the more Sc
curely established because of all the
precedent just set in this Venezuelan
controversy.
The real gist Of the Presidents
suggestive and inspiring address, how
ever, is in what he said about the
enforcement of the Doctrine. That
Doctrine is not international law.
Some day 1T may be. But there is one
thing more desirable than that-name.
ly, that we shall keep it cardinal
feature of our foreign policy aud
maintain for ourselves the will and the
strength to make it effective. Let us
quote his words:
81 believe Ill the Monroe Doctrine
with all my heart and soul; 1 am con-
uced THAT the immense majority of
o.r fellow countrymen so believe in
it; but l would indefinitely prefer to
see us abandon it than to see US put
it forward and bluster about it, and
yet fail to build up the efficient fight
ing strength which IN the last resort
can alone make it respected by any
strong foreign poWe er whose interest
1t may ever happen to be to violate it..
Boosting and clustering are as objec-
tiOnable among nations as among in
dividuals, and the public men of a
great nation owe it to their sense of
national self-resPect to speak cour-
teously of foreign powers, Just as a
brave and self-respecting man treats
all around him courteously. But
though to boast is bad, and causelessIy
to insult another worse, yet worse of
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 a homely old
adage which runs: "Speak softly and
carry big stick, you will go far" L
the American Nation will speak softly
and yet build, and keep at pitch o