Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-12-08

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the great civilized nations Of the pres
ent day should completely disarm. the
result would mean an immediate re-
crudescence Of barbarian In one form
or another. Under any circumstances a
sufficient armament would have to be
kept up to serve tie purposes Of inter
national police, and until international
cohesion and the sense Of international
duties and rights are far more ad-
vanced than at present q nation desir-
Gus both Of securing respect for itself
and Of doing good to others must have
q force adequate for the WORK which II
feels IL allotted to Il 40 its part Of the
general world duty Therefore 1t fol.
lows that a self respecting. just and
farseeing nation should on the one
hand endeavor By every means to aid
in the development Of the various
movements which tend to provide sub
stitutes for war. which tend to render
nations In their actions toward one an
other and indeed toward their own
peoples more responsive to the general
sentiment of humane and civilized
mankind, and, on the other hand. that
1t should keep prepared, while scrupu-
lously avoiding wrongdoing itself, to
repel any wrong and In exceptional
cases to take action which in a more
advanced stage of international rela-
tons would come under the head Of
the exercise Of the international police.
Arbitration TrentieA
We are in every way endeavoring 10
help on, with cordial good will. every
movement which will tend to bring rs
into more friendly relations with the
rest Of mankind In pursuance Of this
policy I shall shortly lay before the SEN
ate treaties Of arbitration with all pow
ers which are willing to enter into these
treaties with us. 1t Is not possible at
this period of the worlds development
to agree to arbiuate all matters, but
there are many matters OF possible
tons which cnn be thus arbitrated.
Furthermore. at the request Of the In
terparliamentary union. IN eminent
body composed Of practical statesmen
from all countries. have asked the
powers to Join with this government
In q second Hague conference, at which
It Is hoped that the work already so
happily begun at The Hague may be
carried some steps further toward
completion. This carries out the de-
sire expressed by the first Hague con-
ference itself.
Policy Townrd Other Nations Of
Western Hemisphere.
1t Is not true that the United States
feels any land hunger or entertains
any projects as regards the other ma
lions of the western hemisphere save
such AZ are for their welfare. All that
this country desires Is to see the neigh
boring countries stable, orderly and
prosperous. ANY country whose people
conduct themselves we'll can count upon
our hearty friendship. II nation
shows that 1t knows how to act with
reasonable efficiency and decency in So
cial and political matters. If 1t keeps
order and pays its obligation it need
fear no interference from the United
States. Chronic wrongdoing or an i'm
potence which results in general loos
ening Of the ties OF civilized society
may In America, as elsewhere, ulti
mately require intervention by some
civilized nation. and in the western
hemisphere the adherence Of the Unit
ed States to the Monroe doctrine may
force the United States, however re
luctantly, in fragrant cases Of suct
wrongdoing or impotence, TO the exer
else Of an international police power
Rights Of American Citizens Abroad
It is necessary for us firmly to insist up
on the rights Of our own citizens abroat
without regard to their creed or race
without regard to whether they wers
born here or born abroad. 1t ha
proved very difficult to secure from
Russia the right for our Jewish fellow
citizen to receive passports and trave
through Russian territory. 1t Is
, wrong against which we are entitled t
/. protest to refuse him his passpor
without regard to his conduct and char
: acter. merely on racial and religion
J grounds.
The Navy.
The strong arm Of the governinen
In enforcing respect for its just right
} In international matters Il the navy Q
the United States. most earnestl
J recommsnd that there be no halt In th
! work Of upbuilding the American nav,
. We have undertaken to build the istf
, milan canal. We have undertaken
secure for ourselves our Just share |
the trade Of the orient. We have III
I dertaken to protect our citizens frOr
, improper treatment In foreign land
, We continue steadily to insist on tn
application of the Monroe doctrine
the western hemisphere. Unless OF
, attitude in these and all similar ma
, tiers Is to be mere boastful sham "
cannot afford to abandon our nav,
programme. Our voice IL now potter
i for peace and Is SO potent because W
are not afraid Of war But our pro
, estations upon behalf Of peace woul
neither receive nor deserve the Sigh
est attention II we were impotent
. make them good.
v The Army.
( Within the last three years the Uni
\ ed States has set an example In di
I armament where disarmament VT
0 proper. by law our army is fixed ,
,, a maximum Of 100000 and minimum
g Of 10000 men. When there was insu
y rection in the Philippines we kept Il