Durango semi-weekly herald., 1903-04-06

the substance OF your lordships teIe
gram OF the nth inst
His excellcncy stated In reply. ths,
the United States government. al
though they regretted that European
powers should use force against Cen
trail and South American countries
could not object To their taking steps
to obtain redress for injuries suffered
by their subjects. provided that nc
acquisition OF territory wns contcm-
plated"
Both powers assured us in explicit,
terms that there was no, the slightest
intention on their part to violate the
principles OF the Monroe doctrine. and
this assurance was kept with an hon.
orablc good faith which merits full
acknowledgment on our part AT the
same time. the existence OF hostilities
IN region so near our own borders
was frausht with such possibilities OF
danger in the future that IL was OBJ
Niousiy no less duty to ourselves
than our duty to humanity to endeay-
or To put an end TO that Accordingly
by an offer of our good services in a
spirit of frank friendliness to all the
parties concerned. spirit In which
they frankly and cordially responded,
we secured resumption of peace
The contending parties agreeing that
the matters which .hey could not set
tie among themselves should be re.
ferred to The Hague tribunal for set
tlement. The United States had most
fortunately already been able to set
an example to other nations by utiliz.
ing the great possibilities for good
contained in The Hague tribunal n
question between ourselves and the
Republic Of Mexico being the first sub
mitted to this international court of
arbitration.
The terms which we have secured
as those under which the isthmian ca
nal is TO be built. and the course of
events in the Venezuela matter. have
shown not merely the eyer.growing In
huence of the United States in the
Western Hemisphere, but also, |
think | may safely say. have exempli-
ned the firm purpose of the United
states that its 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 hu.
man kind In general We do not in
tend to assume any position which can
give just ofiense 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 1t to perform
ance.
The Monroe doctrine is not interna-
tional law, and although / think one
day IL may become such. this Is not
necessary as long as 1t remains car
dinal feature OF our foreign policy and
as long as we possess both the will
and the strength to make 1t effective.
This last point. my fellow citizens, is
all important and is one which as a
people we can never afford to forget
| believe in the Monroe doctrine with
all my heart and soul. ! am convinced
that the immense majority OF our fei
low countrymen so believe In It; but
would infinitely prefer to sec us
abandon II than to see us put II for
ward and buster about it. and yet fail
to build up the efficient fighting
strength which in the last resort car
alone make it respected by any strong
foreign power whose interest II may
ever happen to be to violate IT,
Roasting and clustering are as oh
la n nj n Ia.
individuals, and the public men of a
great nation owe II to their own sense
of national self.respect to speak cour
teously of foreign powers, Just as q
brave and self-respecting man treats
all around him courteously. But
though to boast is bad and causelessIy
to insult another, worse yet worse
than all is TO be guilty of boasting
even without insult. and then when
called TO the proof to he unable to
make such boasting good, There is u
homely old adage which runs: "Speal,
softly and carry big stick; you viii
go far" If the American nation viii
at a pitch of the highest training. 8
thoroughly efficient navy. the Monroe
doctrine will go far. | ask you tc
think this over. II you do. you vii
come to the conclusion that II is mere
plain common sense. so obviously
sound that only the blind can fail IL
see its truth and only the weakest ant
most irresolute can fail to desire tt
put It in force.
Well, in the last TWO years an
happy to say, we have taken loni
strides in advance as regards ou
navy. The last congress. in addition
to smaller vessels, provided nine o
those formidable fighting ships upoI
which the real efficiency of our nav,
depends. IL provided, moreover, 10
the necessary addition of officers an,
enlisted men to make the ships wortl
having Meanwhile the navy depart
ment has seen TO It that our ship
have been constantly exercised at sea
with the great guns and in the maneu
Yers, so that their efficiency when ACT
| ing together, has steadily improved
| Remember that all Of this IL neces
sary A war ship Is a huge bit O
mechanism. well nigh as delicate an
complicated as IL Is formidable.
takes years to build il. It takes year
to teach the officers and men how Z
handle 1t to good advantage 1t Is a