The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-04-03

ch.earo. April s-Six thousand people.
,r !. hail the seating capacity OF which
,s hut sOoo gave enthusiastic greeting 10
president Roosevelt when he stepped up
on the stage OF the Auditorium last
night -. 80.
when the president. escorted by the
members OF the local committee np-
reared on the platform he WAS met WIN
great enthusiasm, the vast crowo r'sins
70 its feet and supplementfng Its hearty
cheers with waivtnG programmes ana
nuttering hsnkerchiefs.
The presidents address In part was as
follows:
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen
Today I wish TO speak TO you. not mere
ly about the Monroe doctrine. out apou'
our entire position I'm the western hem :
i.nhere-a position so peculiar and pred
omfnant that out OF It has grown the
acceptance OF the Monroe doctrine az
cardinal feature OF our foreign policy
Ever since the time when we definitely
extended our boundaries westward 10 the
Pacific and southwark to the gulf, since
the time when the old Spanish ana For-
tuguese colonies 20 the south or us as
serted their Independence our nation has
insisted that because OF it's primacy In
strength among the nations OF the wes-
tern hemisphere II has certain duties ana
RESPONSIBILITIES which oblige II 10 take
a leading part thereon.
We hold that our interests In this hem-
isphere are greater than those or any
European power possibly can be. and
that our duty to ourselves and TO the
weaker republics who are our neghbors
requires us to see that none OF the great
military powers from across the seas
shall encroaoh upon the territory or the
American republics to acquire control
there.
This policy, therefore. not only forbids
us TO acqujesce In such territorial acqui-
siton but also causes us TO object 10
the acquirement OF control which would
in IT'S effects be equal to territorial ag-
grandizement.
This Is why the United States has
steadily believed mat the construction
OF the great isthmian canal, the building
OF which is TO stand as the greatest ma
terial feat OF the Goth century-greater
than any similar feat in any preceding
century-should be done by no foreign
nation, but by ourselves.
The canal must of necessity go through
the territory of one of our smaller sister
republics. We have been scrupulously
careful to abstain from perpetratng any
wrong upon any OF these republics In this
matter. We do not wish To interfer,
with their rights In the least: but. while
carefully safeguarding them, 10 builf
which will enable us. II necessary, TO po-
lice and protect II. and TO guarantee its
neutrality. We being the sole guarantor.
our intention WAS steadfast we desired
action taken so that the canal could al
ways be used by us in time OF peace and
war alike. and In time OF war could
never be used 10 our detriment by any
nation which was hostile to va. Such
action. by the circumstances surround
ing IT, was necessary for the benefit
and not the detrfment OF the adjacent
American republics.
The treaty with Columbia and the Hay
Pauncefort treaty are among the most i'm
portant that we have ever negotiated In
their effects upon the future welfare o
this country. and mark a memorable tri
umph of American diplomacy-one o
those fortunate trlumphs. moreover
which rebounds to the benefit Of the eu
tire world.
During the Venezuelan trouble botl
Germany and England assured us In ex
pliclt terms that there was not the slight
est intention on their part TO violate tn
principles OF the Monroe Doctrine. an'
this assurance was kept with an honor
able good faith which merits full ac
Acknowledgement on our part. At the sam
time. the existence OF hostilties In re
gion so near our own borders was fraugh
with such possibilities Of danger In tn
future that II was obviously no less OIL
duty 10 ourselves than our duty 20 hu
manity TO endeavor TO put an end 10 thai
The terms which we have secured. n
Tn0se under Which The Tsthmian canal
to be built, and the course OF events In IN
Venezuela matter. have shown not merel
the ever-growing influence of the Unite
States in the Western Hemisphere, bui
also / think may safely say. have ex
empliied the hrm purpose OF the Unite