Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-04-15
President RooseveIt's Speech in Chicago
.@@@@@@%@~~~%@~~~~~@@s@


can power save that il in truth allows
each of them to form such as il desires.
We do not guarantee any State
against punishment if it miSc0nducts it.
self, provided that punishment does not
take the form Of tn acquisition Of ter
ritory by any non--American power
His excelency the German ambassa-
dor On his recent return from Berlin
conveyed personally to the President the
assurance of the German Emperor that
his majesty's government had no purpose
or intention 10 make even the smallest
acquisition Of territory on the South
American continent or the islands adja-
cent. This voluntary and friendly dec
laration was afterward repeated TO the
Secretary of State and was received by
the President and the people of the Unit
ed States in the frank and cordial spirit
IN which it was offered. In the memo
randum of the 18th of December his ex-
eellency the German ambassador repeats
these assurances. as follows: We declare
especially that under no circumstances do
we consider in our proceedings the ac-
QUESTION or the + lament occupation of
Venezuelan terrh -
I'm the said memorandum of the 18th
of December the German government
informs the United States that it has
certain just claims for money aud for
damages wrongfully withheld from Ger
man subjects by the government of Ven
ezuela and that it proposes 10 take Ger
tain coercive measures described in the
memorandum to enforce the payment Of
these just claims.
THE President of the United States,
approaching the courtesy Of the German
government in making him acquainted
with the state of affairs referred to and
not regarding himself as called upon to
enter into the consideration of the claims
in question. believes that no measures
viii be taken in this matter by the agents
of the German government which IRE
not in accordance with the well-known
purpose, above set forth, of his majesty
the German Emperor
Sir Michael Herbert to the Marquis of
Lansdowne:
Washington, Nov 10, 1907 COM
municated to Mr.. Hay this morning the
substance of your lordships telegram of
the 18th inst
His excellency stated in reply that
the United States government, although
should use force against Central and
South American countries, could not OBJ
ject to their taking steps to obtain re-
dress for injuries suffered by their sub
jects, provided that no acquisition of ter
ritOry was contemplated"
Monroe Doctrine Respected.
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. sEd
this assurance was kept with an honOra-
bic good faith which merits full acknowl-
edgement ON our part. At the same time
the existence of hostilities in region
so near our own borders was fraught
with such possibilities Of danger in the
future that il was obviously no less our
duty to ourselves than our duty to l.
mainly TO endeavor to put an end to
that. Accordingly. by an offer Of our
good services in spirit of frank friend
Illness to all the parties concerned, a
spirit in which they quickly and cordial
IN responded we secured a resumption of
pcace--the contendiug parties agreeing
that the matters which they could rot
settle among themselves should be re-
ferred TO The Hague tribunal for settle
ment The United States had most for
tunately already been able to set an ex-
ample to other nations by utilizing the
great possibilities for good contained in
The Hague tribunal, a question at issue
between ourselves and the republic of
Mexico being the first submitted to the
international court of arbitration.
The terms which we have secured as
those under which the isthmiau canal is
TO be built and the course of events in
the Venezuela matter have shown mes
merely the ever growing influence of the
United States in the western hemisphere
but also. / think | may safely say, have
exemplifed the firm purpose of the Unit
ed States that its growth and influence
and power shall rebound not to the HARM
hut 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 neighbors. Our adherence to the
rule of human right is not merely pro-
fession. The history Of our dealings
with Cuba shows that we reduce il to
performance.
The Monroe doctrine is not information
al law, and though | 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 rs we
possess both the will and the strength
to make it effective. This last point.
my fellow citizens, is all important. ard
is one which as a people we can never
afford to forget / believe in the Mon
roe doctrine with all my heart and s0nl
l am convinced that the immense ma
jority of our fellow citizens 30 believe
in it: but | would infinitely prefer 10 see
us abandon 1t than to see MS put forward
and buster about it and yet fail to bald
mp the efficient fighting strength which
in the last res ort can alone make IL re
spected by any strong foreign power
whose interest il may ever happen TO hc
to violate it,
Must "Carry a Big Stick"
Boosting and clustering are as objec-
tionable among nations as among indi-
yiduals and the public men of great
alton owe it to their sense of national
s,lf-respect to speak courteously IF for
eign powers. just as brave and self
respecting man treats all around him
courteously. But though TO boast is bad
and causelessly to insult another w0rse.
Yet worse than all is it 10 be guilty Of
boastiug. even without insult. and when
called to the proof to be unable II make
such boasting good. There is homely