The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-03
Boston National League Birmingham
BASEBALL
 TODAY 3:3O p. M.

themselves should be referred to The Hague Tribunal for settlement The United States had most fortunately al- ready been able to set an example to other nations by utilizing the great pos abilities for good contained in Fhe Hague Tribunal, q question al issue between our selves and the Republic of Mexico being the first submitted to this international court of arbitration.
 U. s. Purpose Exemplified.
 The terms which we have secured as those under which the Isthmian canal is to be built. and the course of events in the Venezuelan matter. have shown not merely the ever growing influence of the United States In the western hemisphere, but also, l think l may safely say. have exempllhed the firm purpose of the United States that it's 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. there fore, Is beneficial 10 human kind In gen eral. We do not intend to assume any position which can give just offense to our neghbors. Our adherence to the rule of human right Is not merely profession. The history of our dealings with Cuba shows that we reduce 1t to performance.
 iic donfot uOCtFlDe IS not lnteTnallODdl law, and although I think one day 1t may become such. this is not necessary as long as 1t remains a cardinal feature of our foreign policy and as long as we pos- sess both the will and the strength to make 1t effective. This last point my fellow-citzens, is all important, and is one which as a people we can never af- ford to forget
 Believes in Monroe Doctrine.
 I 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 1t; but l would infinitely prefer to see us abandon 1t than to see us put 1t forward and buster about it, and yet fail to build up the ef- fcient fighting strength which in the last resort can alone make it respected by any strong foreign power whose interest it may ever happen to be to violate 1t.
 Boosting and clustering are objec- uona5le among nations among individ- uals and the public men of a great fla- ton owe It to their sense of national self respect to speak courteously of foreign powers, just as a brave and self-respect- ing man treats all around him courteous ly. But though to boast is bad, and causelessly to insult another. worse; vet "oiSC Aiiuii ill lS It ID Dt BullIY or DOHSt- ing even without insult and when called to the proof to be unable to make such boasting good.
 Need Strong Navy.
 There Is a homely old adage which runs: Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far" If the American nation will speak softly. and yet build, and keep at a pitch of the highest train ing thoroughly efficient navy, the Monroe doctrine will go far. 1 ask you to think over this If you do, you will come to the conclusion that it is mere plain common sense, so obviously sound that only the blind can fail to see it's truth and only the weakest and most ir- resolute can fail to desire to put it into force.
 Have Taken Long Strides.
 Well, in the last two years 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 It provided moreover, for the necessary ad- dition of officers and enlisted men to make the ships worth having Meanwhile the navy department has seen to it that our ships have been constantly exercised at sea, with the great guns, and in man. euvers. so that their efficiency as fighting units, both individually and when act ing together. has been steadily improved Remember that all of this Is necessary A warship is a huge bit of mechanism. well-nigh as delicate and complicated as 1t Is formidable. It takes years to build Ii. IL takes years to teach the officers and men how to handle 1t to good ad- vantage. It is an absolute imposslbilltv to improvise a navy at the outset of war No recent war between any two nations has lasted as long as 1t takes to build A hattleship; and it is just as impossible to lmprovise the officers or the crews as to improvise the navy.
 Would Be a Crime,
 To lay up a battleship and only send II ahoat at the outset of a war. with a raw crew and untried officers. would he not merely a folly but a crime i5r if would invite both disaster and disgrace. The navy which quickly decided in our favor the war in 1898 had been built and made efficient during the preceding fif teen years. The ships that triumphed off Manila and Santiago had been built Under previous adpinlstrations with money ap- propriated by previous congresses. Tho officers and the men did their duty so well because they had already been trained to it by long sea service.
 Praises the Sailors.
 Al honor to the gallant officers and gallant men who actually did the fight ing; but remember. too, to honor the public men, the shipwrights and steel workers, the owners of the shipyards and armor plants, to whose united foresight and eXertion we owe 1t that in 1898 we had craft so good, guns so excellent. and American seamen of so high type in the coming towers. In the gun turrets. and in the engine rooms. It is too late to pre- pare for war when war has come; and If we only prepare sufficiently no war will ever come. We wish a powerful and ef fcient navy, not for purposes of war. but as the snrest guaranty of peace. If We have such navy-if we keep on building 1t up-we may rest assured that th17re is but the smallest chance that trouble will ever come to this nation and we may likewise rest assured that no foreign DOW CT Will ever quarrel with us about the Monroe doctrine.
 At the conclusion of the address tharo was renewed and continued applause. and while the greater part of the audience was leaving the hall the President was holding an impromptu reception on the platform. as all the members of the com mittee who had been seated with him on the platform, and many from the audience pressed around to offer congratulations on the address. Scant time was allowed for this, howS,Nr, and the secret service men closed about the President during the snort handshaking and quickly es- corted him back to his apartments-in the hotel
 This afternoon. aftar