Free press., 1904-12-10

mentioned, where it has proved absolute
Y impossible to bring the accused to the
place appointed by the Constitution for
MS trial
At present the interests of the innc-
cent man are amply safeguarded; but
the interests OF the government that is.
the interests OF honest administration.
that is the interests Of the people. are
not recognized as they should be. No
subject better warrants the attention OF
the Congress. Indeed. no subject better
warrants the attention of the bench and
the bar throughout the United States
Many suggestions for the improve
ment of conditions IN Alaska are
made. among others the admission OF
a delegate from that territory to con-
gress.
Hawaii and Porto Rico.
The Alaskan natives should be given
the right to acquire, hold, and dispose
of property upon the same conditions
given other inhabitants; and the privilege
OF citizenship should be given to such as
may be able to meet certain definite re-
quirements. In Hawaii Congress should
give the governor power TO remove all
the officials appointed under him. The
harbor of Honolulu should be dredged.
The marine hospital service should be
empowered to study leprosy in the is
lands. I ask special consideration for
the report and recommendations OF the
governor OF Porto Rico.
Foreign Policy.
In treating of our foreign policy and of
the attitude that this great nation should
assume in the world at large, it is abso-
Iutely necessary to consider the army and
the navy, and the Congress. through
which the thought Of the nation finds
its expression, should keep ever vividly
in mind the fundamental fact that it is
impossible to treat our foreign policy.
whether this policy takes shape in the
effort to secure justice for others or jus
tice for ourselves. save as conditioned
upon the attitude willing to take
toward our army, and especially toward
our navy. 1t is not merely unwise. it is
contemplate, for nation, as for an in
dfvidual to use high-sounding language
to proclaim its purposes. or to take po-
sitfons which are ridiculous if unsupport-
ed by potential force, and then to refuse
to provide this force. If there is no in
tention Of providing and of keeping the
force necessary to back up strong atti-
tude, then 1t is far better not to assume
such attitude.
The steady aim OF this nation, as of all
enlightened nations. should be to strive
TO bring ever nearer the day when there
shall prevail throughout the world the
peace Of justice. There are kinds of
peace which are highly undesirable
which are in the long run as destructive
as any war. Tyrants and oppressors have
many times made wilderness and called
1T peace. The peace of tyrannous terror,
the peace OF craven weakness. the peace
Of injustice all these should be Stunned
as we shun unrighteous war. The goal
to set before US as a nation. the goal
which should be set before all mankind.
is the attainment of the peace of JUS
tice. Of the peace which comes when
each nation is not merely safe-guarded
in its own rights, but scrupulously rec
ognizes and performs its duty toward
others.
There is as Yet no judicial way OF en-
forcing right in international law.
When one nation wrongs another or
wrongs many others, there is no tribu-
nal before which the wrongdoer can be
brought Either 1t is necessary supinely
to acquiesce in the wrong, and thus put
a premium upon brutality and aggres-
sion, or else it is necessary for the ag-
grieved nation valiantly to stand up for
its rights. Until some method is devised
by which there shall be a degree OF in
ternat1onal control over offending ma
tions, it would be a wicked thing for
the most civilized powers, for those with
most sense of international obligations
and with keenest and most generous ap-
probation of the difference between right
and wrong, to disarm. If the great civ
ilized nations OF the present day should
completely disaPn, the result would mean
an immediate recrudescence of barbar-
ism in one form another.
HrDlrrdrlon EeacfeS.
We are in every way endeaVoring to
help on, with cordial good will, every
movement which will tend to bring US
into more friendly relations with the rest
of mankind. In pursuance of this policy
[ shall shortly lay before the Senate
treaties Of arbitration with all powers
which are willing to enter into these
treaties with us. Furthermore, at the
request of the Interparliamentary Union
an eminent body composed Of practical
statesmen from all countries, have
asked the Powers to join with this gov
ernment in a second Hague conference
at which it is hoped that the work al
ready so happily begun at The Hague
may be carried some steps further to-
ward completion. This carries out the
desire expressed by the first Hague con-
ference Itself.
Policy on Western Hemisphere.
1t is not true that the United States
feels any land hunger or entertains any
projects as regards the other nations of
the western hemisphere save such as are
for their welfare All that this coun-
try desires is to see the neighboring
countries stable, orderly, and prosperous.
Any country whose people conduct them
selves well can count upon our hearty
friendship. If "a nation shows that it
knows how to act with reasonable efi-
cheney and decency IN social and political
matters. IL 1t keeps or0er and pays its
obligations. it need fear no interference
from the United States. Chronic wrong
doing. or an impotence which results in
a general loosening of the ties of civil
lied society, may in America, as else
where. ultimately require intervention by
some civilized nation, and in the western
hemisphere the adherents of the United
States to the Monroe doctrine may force
the United Sta tcs. however reluctantly
in fragrant cases of such wrongdoinE or
impotence, to the exercise of an inter
national police power
Our interests and those of our south
ern neighbors are in reality identical
They have great natural riches, and If
within their borders the reign of law and
Justice obtains, prosperity is sure to come
TO them While they thus obey the pri-
mary laws OF civilized society they may
rest assured that they viii be treated by
in a spirit of cordial and helpful sym
pathy- We would interfere with them
only in the last resort. and then only
If it became evident that their inabll.cy
or unwillingness to do justice at home
and abroad had violated the rights of
the United States or had invited foreign
aggression to the detriment OF the en-
tire body of American nations.
In asserting the Monroe doctrine, in
taking such steps as we have taken in
regard to Cuba, Venezuela, and Panama.
and in endeavoring to circumscribe the
theater OF war in the far East and to
secure the open door in China, we have
acted IN our own interest as well as in
the interest of humanity at large There
are. however. cases Gin which. while our
own interests are not greatly involved,
fz