The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-09-12
Mr., ROOSEvELT'S
ACCEPTANCE

fully with the tariff and currency
enabled them also to deal with the
Spanish war; and the same qualities
which enabled them to act wisely In
the Philippines and in Cuba, also en-
abled them to do their duty as re
CARDS the problems connected with
the trusts, and to secure the building
OF the Isthmian canal. We are con
tent to- rest our case before the Amer
lean people upon the fact that to ad
herence 70 lofty ideal we have ad
ded proved governmental efficiency
Therefore, our promises may surely
be trusted as regards any issue that
is now before the people; and we
may equally be trusted to deal with
any problem that may hereafter
arise.
so we'll has the work been done
that our opponents do not venture
to recite the facts about our policies
or acts, and then oppose them. They
attack them only when they have
first misrepresented them; for a
truthful recital would leave no room
for adverse comment
Defends Panama Action.
Panama offers an instance in
point. Our opponents can criticise
what we did in Panama only on con
dition of mlsstating what was done.
The administration behaved through
out not only with good faith, but
with extraordinary patience and large
generosity toward those with whom
1t dealt II was also mindful of Amer
lean interests. 1t acted in strict com.
pliance with the law passed by con
gress. Had not Panama been prompt
ly recognized, and the transit across
the Isthmus kept open, in accordance
with our treaty rights and obliga-
tions, there would have ensued end
less guerrilla warfare and possibly
foreign complications; while all
chance Of building the canal would
have been deferred, certainly for
years, perhaps for a generation or
more. Criticism of the acton in this
matter is simply criticism Of the on.
ly possible action which could have
secured the building of the canal as
well as the peace and quiet which we
were, by treaty, bound to preserve
along the line Of transit across the
Isthmus. The service rendered this
country in securing the perpetual
right to construct, maintain, operate,
and defend the canal was so great
that our opponents do not venture
to raise the Issue in Straightforward
fashion; for ii so raised there would
be no issue. The decisive action
which brought about this beneficent
result was the exercise by the presi-
dent of the powers vested in him,
and in him alone, by the constitutions
the, power to recognize foreign govern
ments by entering into diplomatic re-
latlons with them. and the power to
make treaties which, when ratified
by the senate, become under the con-
stitution part of the supreme law of
The land. Neither in this nor in any
other matter has there been the
slightest failure to live up to the
in letter and spirit. The
duty Is to serve the coun
try in accordance with the constitu-
tion; and | should be derelict in my
duty If | used a false construction
IF the constitution as a shield for
weakness and timidity, or as an ex-
cuse for impotence.
Defends His Foreign Policy.
Similar misrepresentation is the
1ne weapon of our opponents in re-
gard to our foreign policy, and the
way the navy has been made useful
IN carrying out this policy Here |
lgain all that we ask is that they |
state what has been done, |
md then say whether or not they OBJ |
ect TO it; for If continued in power
ge shall continue our foreign policy |
md our handling of the navy exact.
y on the same lines in tho future as |
n the past. To what phase of our
SANiSh poiiNgs dHu W Nlidt uSt VI [
he navy, do our opponents object?
Do they object to the way in which
he Monroe doctrine has been
trengthened and upheld? Never be-
ore has this doctrine been acqui-
seed in abroad as T. is now: and
ret, while upholding the rights OF
he weaker American republics
gainst foreign aggression, the ad-
has lost no opportunity
o point out to these republics that
hose who seek equity should come
With clean hands. and that whoever
laims liberty as a right must ac-
ept the responsibilities that go with
he exercise of the right
do our opponents object to what
'as done in reference TO the peti.
lon Of American citizens against the
,ishenev massacre? or to the pro-
est against the treatment of the
exs in Roumania? or to the efforts
hat have been made in behalf of the
in Turkey? No other ad-
in our history. no other
Oyernment in the world. has more
stood for the broadest 4
pirit Of brotherhood in orr common
umanity. or has held a more reso-
tie attitude of protest against ev-
l. - L..