The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-16
What Roosevelt Faced.

'When you keenly grasp the full sense of the imminent danger of foreign compli- cations which confronted the President and the plainly evident truth that no Jus- tice, generosity, fair dealing or business like consideration could be obtained from Colombia, and when you recall Colombia S dog-in-the-manger attitude and the sali- ent dangerous pressing exigencies of the situation which confronted this govern ment upon the night of November 8, I think you may well be glad that there was in Washington upon this truly fate- full occasion a man who possessed the in- sight, the knowledge, the spirit and the courage to seize the opportunity to strike a blow, the results of which can be fraught only with peace and good will to the whole world.
 "One of the most significant and valua- ble results of our action in respect to Panama will be the wholesome object lesson and enduring moral effect which our supremacy on the isthmus will bring to the eyes of certain people who are in sore need of instruction in the practice of peaceful pursuits and orderly admins- tration. It also will not be without value for these same people clearly to under stand in dealing with the United States that there is a limit to the patience and the forbearance of this government
 Have Given Fair Play.
 'We have always tried to deal gener- ously and kindly with our neighbors; we have done them great favors at many times in many ways with no expectation of reward in return Our citizens have sometimes suffered great indignities at their hands and on more than one occa- sion they have visited unmerited sights and insults upon this government. All these things we have borne well and pa- tently for it is doubtless true that there is a disposition to take advantage of our good will and our good nature. It is also true that some of the Latin-American countries have presumed upon their small ness and feebleness to do certain things and to assume certain unpardonable at titudes which we would not for a mo- ment tolerate on the part of larger or more responsible nations.
 Happily, all of the Latin-Americans are not alike, and all do not offend in these particulars. There are many good and enlightened people among them. We have the best of feeling for them all. We want them to attain great prosperity and power We wish all of our neighbors well, and we want all of them to be plenteously endowed with the blessings of peace. No republic to the south of us can become too rich, potent and self-sustaining to suit the kindly purpose of this country.
 America's Kindly Feeling.
 Everywhere among the people of Latin- America we want the spirit of liberty to thrive and have it's being. We want to feel that they are profiting by what is noble and true in our national life. In this sense at least, we hope to be paramount throughout the world. We want the Am erican republics to know that honest toll is dignfied and ennobling; we want them to entertain spirit of toleration in all matters: we want, too, ideas of civil and religious liberty and free education to have wide scope and abundant apprecia- ton, and we desire all of our Latin-Am- erican friends heartily to join us in urg- ing, supporting and vitalizing the principle of internal arbitration.
 "In these peaceful ways it is the desire of this government to Americanize the new world, and perhaps the old. but not by the power of the almighty dollar, nor by the urgency of trade demands not by any manifestation or display of force but rather by the more potent and enduring means of the dissemination of those lofty civiizing agencies, those great principles. those fine ideals those substantial vir- tues upon which our country was founded and upon which it has continuously thriv- ed and had it's well being.