Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-04
DErINne TINS AMERloAN POSITION.

DEFINING THIS AMERICAN POSITION.
The speech Of President Roosevelt at
Chicago will command earnest attention
abroad as well as in this country. While
It contains nothing essentially new, 1t
states most explicitly and forcefully the
position Of the United States In regard
TO the affairs in this hemisphere and
takes an uncompromlslng stand for h
maintenance and enforcement of the
Monroe doctrine, The president declared
that our interests in the western hemi-
sphere are greater than those Of any
European power possibly can be and
that duty to ourselves and to our weaker
sister republics requires us to see that
none Of the great military powers across
the e shall encroach upon the terri
tory Of the American republics or ac-
qulre control thereover."
In regard to the Monroe doctrine the
president expressed the opinion that 1t
will one day become recognized in inter
national law, but he said this is not
necessary as long as 1t remains a cardi-
nal feature of our foreign policy and
as long as we possess both the will and
the strength to make it effective. The
fighting power of the nation must be
built up 80 that it will command the
respect of foreign nations. There must
be a thoroughly efficient navy. I'VE
wish a powerful and efficient navy"
said Mr.. Roosevelt, not for purposes Of
war, but as the surest guaranty of
peace. If we have such a navy, If we
keep IN building 1t up, we may rest
assured that there is but the smallest
chance that trouble will ever come to
this nation, and we may likewise rest
assured that no foreign power will ever
quarrel with us about the Monroe doc
trine.' There is no doubt as to the de-
termination of the American people that
that doctrine shall be maintained. IT
has now a stronger hold upon the re-
gard OF the country than ever before,
because 1t is more generally and better
understood. All intelligent men realize
how essential it is to our own security
that the doctrine be maintained. At the
same time European governments re.
alize that this cardinal feature of oul
foreign policy is fixed and ~lrrevocable
and must be respected. Some of then
may hesitate to give it formal recOg
milton and refuse to acknowledge 1t as
international law, but hone of them will
venture to c%ontravene It. This has beer
quite conclusively demonstrated in tn,
last few years and c~onspicuously so II
the Venezuelan case.
No European government can MAKE
any reasonable objection to Presiden
ROosevelt's statement Of the American
position. 1t contains no menace to then
and imposes no restriction upon thei
legitimate rights In the western hemi
sphere. It will not interfere with thei
commercial opportunities, nor with tn
settlement of their people wherever the,
may desire to 60. If Germans, Italian
or any other Europeans wish to coloniz
in any southern republic, as has beef
done in Brazil, the Monroe doctrine in
: terposes no obstacle. As to the southern
, republics, they should accept the Ameri
can position as the surest guaranty O
their independence and of the securit
Of their territory ~egafnst foreign az
gression' They have been given tn
most ample assurance Of the purpose o
the United States to see that they shaI
not be despolled of territory or sui
jected to foreign domination and sell
interest should show them the wisdor
and %expediency Of uniting In support O
: the position of this republic respectin
!, them. But whether they do so or nc
: the Monroe doctrine will be maintained