Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-03

III Nnt NtsACEn hemisphere Out Alsot 4 Autlk
l may safely say, have exemplined the firm
purpose OF the United States that its
growth and influence and power shall re-
dound not to the harm, but to the benefit
Of our sister republics whose strength Is
less. Our growth, therefore, Is beneficial 10
human kline in general, We do not intend
to assume any position which can give just
onense TO our neighbors. our adherence
TO the rule Of human right is not merely
profession. The history OF our dealings
with Cuba shows that we reduce II to per.
| Torrance.
The Monroe doctrine is not international
law, and though l think one day IL may
become such. this is not necessary as long
as II remains a cardinal feature OF our
b tStfls The V WIii a a6o tS he s 58Rs as w 10 make Possef il
effective. This last point is all important,
and is one. which as a people we can never
doctrine with ali my heart and soul; l am
convinced that the immense majority Of our
fellow-countrymen so believe In It; but l
would infinitely prefer to see. us abandon
IL than to see us put II forward and buster
about IT,. and yet fail to build up the eff
cient fighting strength which in the last
resort can alone make it respected by any
strong foreign power whose interest Il
may ever happen to be to violate It.
Must Avoid Roasting.
Boosting and clustering are as objection
able among nations as among individuals,
and the public men Of a great nation owe 1t
to their sense Of national self-respect to
speak courteously OF foreign powers, Just
as a brave and self-respecting man treats
all around him courteously. But though
to boast Is bad. and causelessly to insult
another, worse. yet worse than all is II to
and when called to the proof to be unable
to make such boasting good. There is a
homely old adage which runs: Speak
softly and carry a big stick: you will 60
far" II the American nation will speak
softly, and yet build, and keep at a pitch
Of the highest tTainins a thoroughly EN-
1 ask you to think over this. II you do,
you Will come to the conclusion that 1t Is
sound that only the blind can fall to see
its truth and only the weakest and most
irresolute can fail to desire to put it into
force.
Well, in the last two years, I am happy
TO say, we have taken long strides in ad-
vance as regards our navy. The last con-
vtded nine of those formidable fighting
ships which the real efficiency OF any navy
moreover. for the necessary addition of Of
hcers and enlisted men to make the ships
worth having. Meanwhile the Navy. de-
partment has seen to II that our ships have
been constantly exercised at sea, with the
great guns, and in maneuvers, so that their
efficiency as lighting units, both individu
ally and when acting together. has been
steadily improved. Remember that a. this
IL necessary. A war ship Is a huge bit OF
mechanism, we'll nigh as delicate and com.
plicated as it is formidable. 1t takes years
to build II, 1t AXE years to teach the
officers and men how to handle it to good
advantage. 1t Is an absolute impossibility
to improvise n navy at the outset of war
No recent war between any two nations
has lasted as long as it takes to build a
battleship, and it is just as impossible to
improvise the officers OF the crews as &c
improvise the navy.
afloat at the outset of a war, with a raw
crew and untried officers, would be mo-
merely a folly, but a crime, for II would
which so quickly decided in our favor the
war in 1898 had been built and made Eff.
Client during the preceding fifteen years
The ships that triumphed off Manila anc
Santiago had been built under previous
administrations with money appropriated
men did their duty so well because theS
had already been trained to 1t by long sef
service. All honor to the gallant officers
and gallant men who actually did tn,
fighting; but remember, too, to honor tn,
public men, the shipwrights, and stee
workers, the owners of the ship yards anC
armor plants. to whose united foresight
and exertion we owe 1t that In 1898 we haC
craft so good, guns so excellent. and Amer
lean seamen of so high a type in the con
ming towers. in the gun %turrets and II
the engine rooms. 1t is too late to pre-
only prepare sufficiently no war will eve
come. We wish a powerful and eficien.
navy, not for purposes of war, but as tn,
surest guaranty. of peace: II we have suci
q navy, II we keep on building it up, W.
may rest assured that there is but tn,
smallest chance that trouble will ever com,
to this nation, and we may likewise res
assured that no foreign power will eveI
quarrel with US about the Monroe doctrine
Cummins VIII Escort President.
DIES u MONIES, April Ex-Governor
Cummins and his staff will escort Presi.
dent Roosevelt on the latter's trip through
Iowa with a special train. This train will
precede the president and arrive in eacl
town or village ahead of the presidential
schedule to inform the awaiting crowds
Of the approach Of the chief executive.
VI Besides the staff there will be leadint
men OF the state invited to tn,
governor. The special will arrive at Cha
rinda on the morning of the 2sth OF April
1t will Their take up its two days worl
of escorting bidding President Roosevelt
goodbye at Keokuk.