Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-10-11

Cuban letter:
If a nation knows how to act with de-
cency in Industrial and political matters.
if # keeps order and pays it's obIiga tons,
then 1t need fear no interference from the
United States Brutal wrongdOing or
an impotence which results in a general
loosening of the ties of civilized society
may finally require Intervention by some
civilized nations, and in the western
hemisphere the United States cannot ig-
more this duty. but it remains true that
our interests and those of our southern
neighbors are n reality identical All
that we ask is that they shall govern
themselves well and be prosperous and
orderly.
The country knows now what to ex-
pect, and if it gives the president a
mandate to swing his big stick over
the heads of the world in general, and
the western hemisphere i'll particular,
it will do SO with its eyes open.
Mr. Roosevelt boasts that his foreign
policy of universal meddlngs has been
mot only highly advantageous to the
United States, but hardly less advan-
tageous to the world as a whole" Who
authorized him TO look after the in
terests of the world as n whOle?" The
accidental occupant of the presidency
of the United States. he assumed the
functions of lord protector of the west
ern hemisphere. Are we to add to
that the title of guardian OF the uni
verse?
No former president ever thought it
his duty to regulate the affairs of the
world as whole No great for
eign statesman ever felt under any
such obligation. Bismarck. Gladstone.
mi. IL,
pie occupation in promoting the wei
fare OF their own nations. Washing
ton. whose mind was broad enough II
include all humanity in its scope. lin
tied his efforts for mankind to the
modest task of furnishing an example
OF pure efficient democratic govern
ment at home which the rest of the
world could take as Il model. He
strenuOusly opposed the policy of med
ding in affairs that did not directly
concern us.
President Roosevelt sees enemies be
hind every bush. He insists that we
shall be unable to protect our citi-
Zens if we reduce our regular army.
because the heed paid to our protests
will be exactly propOrtiOnate TO the
belief in our ability to make these pro
tests effecti-e should the need arise"
The clear implication is that national
strength and influence are exactly pro
pOrtionate To the size of the organized
military forces. Therefore Spain. with
III GO regular troops and $4,000
trained reserves. must inspire Il frac-
ton over five times as much respect
among foreign governments as is given
to the United States. with Gi.G91 regu-
lars AMI 12i.J13 organized Inilitiamen.
The navy is the most potent guaran-
tee of peace" shouts the president,
chiefly because it is formidable and
ready for use" Ready for use against
whom? Can Mr.. Roosevelt name sin
gle European power that would be 50
insane rs even to think of aggression
or war on the United States, its food
provider and best customer, while sur
rounded by armed enemies at home?
What possible use can we have for Il
great war navy except for jingOism-
for carrying out that dictatorship Owe;
South America outlined in the Cuban
letter and that policy of Asiatic dom
nation propounded in the present let
ter of acccptanceE
II we are looking for the enemies Of
the republic they are easy to find, but
they are not such as the army and navy
can repel. They are here at home.
They are the race prejudice between
100000 negroes. half of them Hitter
ate. and their white neighbOrs; the ig-
nOrance, greed, corruption and lawless-
ness that faint the electorate; the off,
Gals that sell their trusts. and the con-
scienceless capitalists that buy. While
we are sending warships TO Smyrna
these public enemies are intrenched in
Washington. The president has sent
his late private secretary TO solicit the
aid of some of the worst of them.
If cotton planter whose crops were
| infested with boil weevil should stan0
guard ut his front gate with a club TO
protect his fields against grizzly bears
! he could congratulate himself upon
| furnishing perfect imitation of the
craftsmanship for which Theodore
Roosevelt asks Il vote of approval from
| the American people. - New York