New-York tribune., 1903-04-03


The Presidents address on the Monroe Doc
trine, delivered at Chicago last evening. Wds
brief but by no means perfnnctory. 1t was, on
the contrary, instinct with frankness ana en-
ergy. and had especial emphasis In the fact or
its being largely a review of the attitude of the
Presidents own administration toward the Doc
trine There is no exaggeration in saying
plainly what the President modestly intimates
that in the last two years or less the position
of the United States in the Western Heml-
sphere has been notably strengthened and as
sured. Two years ago we were no nearer an
isthmian canal under exclusive control than
we had been for half century and more. To-
day. by virtue of two treaties, we are upon the
very threshold of such a CANAL and one of those
treaties practically implies recognition OF the
Monroe Doctrine by one Of the greatest OF FOR
eien mowers. while the other confirms our
friendly and benevolent attitude toward our re-
publican neighbors in this hemisphere The
President is amply justified in declaring those
treaties to be among the most important we
have ever negotiated in their bearing upon the
future welfare of this country
No less TO the point is the Venezuela case.
The President gives the text of state docu-
ments which prove that there was ali along
an understanding between this government and
the governments of Great Britain and Ger
many and that those powers gave satisfactory
assurances that there was no intention on their
part to violate the Monroe Doctrine. We as
sumed in these columns at the outset that such
was the case and at no time any reason
for changing our views It ic gratifying TO
have the facts so emphatically and categorically
set forth by the President, and to hear also and
to repeat and publish widely his declaration
that those assurances of those powers were. in
his own words. kept with an honorable good
faith which merits full acknowledgment on
'our part" Nothing less than such good faith
was of course to be expected. But it will not
escape attention that in those very crcnm-
stances the Monroe Doctrine received pract1cal
recognition of unmistakable strength. Every
time a law is openly 1outed its moral force is
weakened So every time a principle is recog-
nfzed It gains moral force. In giving assurances
that they would not violate the principles or
the Monroe Doctrine those powers did not erect
that doctrine into international law. but they
admitted it TO be American policy which on
that occasion at least they would respect Every
time such policy is thus respected it becomes
more probable that it will also be respected the
next time IT comes into an issue. "a precedent"
said Disraeli. "embalms principle" Certainly
repeated precedents establish a principle. and
the essential principles of the Monroe Doctrine
are all the more securely esta blished because or
the precedent Just set in this Venezuelan con-
troversy.
The real gist of the Presidents suggestive
and inspiring address, however, ia in what he
said about the enforcement of the Doctrine
That Doctrine is not International law. Some
day It may be- But there is one thing more de-
siraflle than that-namely, that we shall keep it
q cardinal feature of our foreign policy and
maintain for ourselves the will and the strength
TO make it effective. Let us quote his words:
I believe in the Monroe Doctrine with all my
heart and soul; convinced that the i'm
rnense majority Of our fellow countrymen so be-
leve in IT; but would infinitely prefer to see
us abandon it than to see US put II forward and
bluster about 1t, and yet fail to build up the
efficient fighting strength which In the last re-
sort alone make IL respected by any strong
foreign power whose interest 1t may ever hap
pen TO be to violate It Boosting and clustering
are Objectionable among nations as among
individuals and the public men of a great ma
ton owe il TO their Of national self-re-
snact To speak courteously of foreign powers
all around him courteously. But though to
boast is bad. and causelessy to insult another
worse, yet worse than all is 1t TO be guilty OF
boasting even without insult and when called
to the proof to be unable to make such boastng
good. There is homely old adage which runs;
Speak softly and carry a big stick; you VIII go
far" II the American Nation will speak softly,
and yet build, and keep at q pitch Of the high
est training, thoroughly efficient Navy, the
Monroe Doctrine will go far.
Those are wise words, and the American peo-
pie will do well to take them earnestly to heart
The two canal treaties were triumphs for the
Monroe Doctrine. So was the Venezuela bust-
ness But there is no more essential work done
for that Doctrine than is being done every day
where warships are being built and where their
crews are being drilled and trained and edu-
Gated In their most efficient use.