The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-04-03
CHICAGO GREETING
Continued from First Page.


! the last two years. Two years ago we
were no further advanced toward the
construction of the isthmian canal on our
terms than we had been during the pre-
ceding eighty years. By the ay-Paunce-
! fote treaty, ratified in December, 1901,
an old treaty with Great Britain,
which had been held to stand in the
way, was abrogated and it was agreed
that the canal should be constructed
under the auspices of the government
of the United States, and Chat this
government should have the exclusive
right to regulate and manage il, becom-
ing the sole guarantor of its neutrality.
1T was expressly stipulated, further
more. that this guaranty of neutrality
should not prevent the United States from
taking any measures which IT found nee
essary in order to secure by its own forces
the defense of the United States and the
maintenance of public order. Immediate
~ following this treaty, congress passed
a law under which the president was au
thoriZed to endeavor to secure a treaty
for acquiring the right to finish the COLI
struction of, and to operate, the Panama
canal, which had already been begun In
the territory of Colombia by a French
company. The rights of, this company
were accordingly obtained and treaty
negotiated with the republic of Colombia.
This treaty has just been ratified by the
senate. 1t reserves all of Colombia's
rights, while guaranteeing all Of our own
and those of neutral nations, and specifi
cally permits to take any and all
measures for the defense of the canal,
and for the pI<sr-ation of our interests,
whenever in our judgment an exigency
may arise wAich calls for action on our
part. In other words, these two treaties,
and the legislation to carry them out,
have resulted in our obtaining on exactly
the terms We desired the rights and priv
ileges which we had so long sought in
vain. These treaties are among the most
important that we have ever negotiated
in their effects upon the future welfare of
this country, and mark memorable tri-
umph of American diplomacy-one of
those fortunate triumphS. moreover, that
rebound to the benefit of the entire world.
About the same time trouble arose in
connection with the republic OF Vene-
zuela because of certain wrongs alleged
to have been committed. and debts over
due, by this republic to citizens of va
rious foreign powers, notably England,
Germany and Italy. After failure to
reach an agreement these powers began
blockade Of the Venezuelan coast and
condition of Quasi-war ensued. The
concern of our government was, of course,
not to interfere needlessly in any quarrel
so far as it did not touch our interests
or our honor, and not to take the attitude
of protecting from coercion any power
unless we are willing to espouse the quar-
rel of that power, but to keep an attitude
of watchful vigilance and see that there
was no infringement OF the Monroe Doc
trine-no requirement of territorial rights
by European power at the expense Of
a weak Sister republic-whether this ac-
QUESTION might be in the shape of an out
right and avowed seizure of territory or
of the exercise of control which would
in effect be equivalent to such seizure.
THE Monroe Doctrine is not interna-
tional law, and though think one day it
may become such. this is not necessary
of our foreign policy and as long as we
possess both the will and the strength to
make it effective This last point my
fellow-citizens is all important, and is
one which as a people we can never af-
ford to forget. I believe in the Monroe
Doctrine with all my heart and soul:
am convinced that the immense majority
of our feilow-countrymen so believe in it:
but 1 would infinitely prefer to see us
abandon it than to see US put ii forward [
and buster about it, and yet fail to
build up the efficient fighting strength
which in the last resort alone can make |
ii respected by any strong foreign power
whose interests 1t may ever happen to be
to violate it.
Boosting and clustering are as objec- |
tionable among nations as among individ- {
uals. and the public men of a great nation ]
owe 1t to their sense of national self-re- !
spect TO speak courteously Of foreign +
powers just as brave and self-respect- 4
ing man treats all around him courteous I
". But though TO boast is bad and cause
lessly TO insult worse, yet worse than .
all is IL to be guilty OF boasting. even I
without insult. and when called TO the (
proof TO be unable TO make such boast
ing good. There is a homely old adage
which runs: Speak softly and carry
big stick: you will go far. If the Ameri- .
can nation will speak softly. and vet i
build. and keep at pitch OF the highest .
a thoroughly efficient navy. the i
Monroe Doctrine will go far ask you
TO think over this II you do. you Will j
come TO the conclusion that il Is mere \
plain common sense. so obviously sound I
that only the blind can fail to see its .
truth and only the weakest and most
lrresolute can fan 10 desire 10 put It into 4
force
At the conclusion of the address there 4
was renewed and continued APPLAUSE and /
while the greater part Of the audience
was leaving the hall the president vas
holding an improrptu reception on the
platform. where an the members OF TIRE
committee that could be seated with him
on the platform. and many men Of TIE
audience pressed around him 10 offer tae.r
on his address.
The president after leaving the Audi
toriurn went a; once 70 his room in The
hotel where he partook OF light lunch
His carriage was called within a few min
utes after the lunch vas finished anl 4
q; les O'Clock. accompanied By a nu-,-
Der OF the local committee. ne vas taken
to the station Of the Chicago and North
western. where his train was IN waiting.