The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-04-03
MIGHTY NAVY
|NSURES PEACE.
The Monroe Doctrine Must Be Pre-
served and the lsthmian Canal
American, Says Roosevelt

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,
therefore, Is beneficial to human kind In
general.
We do not intend 10 assume any posi-
ton which can give just offence 10 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 IL to performance.
The Monroe doctrine Is not international
law. and, though l think one day 1t may
become such. this is not necessary as long
as IL remains cardinal feature OF our
foreign policy and as long IA we possess
both the will and the strength 10 make IL
effective.
This last point my FELLOW citizens. is all
important and is one which as a people
we can never afford to forget l believe
in the Monroe Doctrine with all my heart
and SOUL I am convinced that the i'm
mense majority OF our fellow countrymen
so believe in IL: but / would Infinitely
prefer to see us abandon II than TO see
us put II forward and buster about II.
and yet fail 10 build up the efficient fight
ing strength which in the last resort can
alone make 1t respected by any strong
foreign power whose interest IL may ever
happen TO be 10 violate II.
Speak softly and carry big stick;
you will go far" IL the American ma
ton will speak softly. and yet build, and
keep at a pitch OF the highest training, n
thoroughly efficient navy. tho Monroe
Doctrine will go far
Well in the last two years, I am happy
to say we have taken long strides in od-
vance as regards our navy. The last con-
gress In addition to smaller vessels. pro-
vided nine OF those formidable hghting
ships upon which the real efficiency or
any navy In war ultimately depends. II
provided moreover. FOR the necessary ad-
dition OF officers and ENLISTED men 10
make the ships worth having.
Meanwhile the navy department has
seen TO Il that our ships have been con-
stantly exercised at sea, with the great
guns, and in manoeuvres, so that their
efficiency as fighting units. both indfvid-
ually and when acting together has been
steadily improved. Remember that all OF
this Is necessary.
warship Is a huge bit OF mechanism,
well-nigh as delicate and complicated as
! IL In formidable IL takes years to build II.
! II takes years To teach the officers and
| men how 10 handle IL To good advantage.
| II Is an absolute impossibility To impro-
| wise a navy at the outset OF war.
No recent war between any two nations
! has lasted as long az IL takes 10 build a
battleship: and II Is just AZ impossible TO
/ improvise the officers or the crews as TO
| improvise the navy.
To lay up a battIeship and only send II
! af,oat at the outset OF war. with a raw
| crew and untried officers, would be not
| merely folly, but crime. for IL would
| invite both disaster and disgrace. The
navy which so quickly decided In our fa-
| vor the war In 1898 had been built and
made efficient during the preceding 10
! years
| The ships triumphed off Manila and
| Santiago had been built under previous
| administrations with money appropriated
by previous congresses. The officers and
| the men did their duty so well because
they had already been trained TO ~ oy
! long sea service. All honor to the gallant
men who actually did the lighting; but re-
| member too to honor the public men,
| the shipwrights and steel workers. the
owners of the shipyards and armor
| plants, to whose united foresight and ex-
ertion we owe IL that In 1898 we had craft
| so good guns 80 excellent and American
seamen OF so high type In the coming
| towers, in the gun turrets and In the en-
| gine rooms.
1t is too late TO prepare for war when
war has cine; and, IL we only prepare
sufficiently no war will ever come We
wish a powerful and efficient navy, not
for purposes az war. but IA the sures'
guaranty OF peace. IL we have such 9
navy--if we keep on building II up-wC
may rest assured that there is but the
smallest chance that trouble will evei
come to this nation and we may like
- wise rest Assured -tfrnt-ffo foreign power
will ever quarrel with us about the Mon
roe doctrine.
Al the conclusion Of the address there
was renewed applause. and while th'
greater part OF the audience was leavinl
the hall the president held an impromptt
reception on the platform.
Immediately preceding his address IN
the Auditorium President Roosevelt wa
entertained at dinner I'm the banquet hal
OF the Auditorium by the members o
the local entertainment committee
About 10 guests were present besides th'
president and his party The dinner wa
entirely informal.