The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-12


foreign governments by entering into
diplomatic relations with them, and the
power to make treaties which, when
ratified by the senate. become under the
constitution part of the supreme law
of the land. Neither in this nor in any
other matter has there been the slight
est failure to live up to the constitution
in letter and in spirit. But the constitu-
tfon must be observed positively as well
as negatively. The presidents duty is
TO serve the country in accordance with
the constitution; and should be dere-
1ict in my duty if 1 used a false con-
struction of the constitution as a shield
for weakness and timidity, as an ex-
cuse for governmental impotence.
Democratic Misrepresentation.
Similar Misrepresentation is the one
weapon of our opponents in regard to
our foreign policy, and the way the
navy has been made useful in carrying
out this policy. Here again all that we
ask is that they truthfully state what
has been done. and then say whether
or not they object to it; for if continued
in power we shall continue our foreign
policy and our handling of the navy on
exactly the same lines in the future as
IN the past. To what phase of our for
eign policy. and to what use of the
navy, do our opponents object? Do
they object to the way in which the
Monroe doctrine has been strengthened
and upheld2 Never before has this doc
trfne been acquiesced in abroad as it is
now: and yet. while upholding the
rights of the weaker American repub-
lies against foreign aggression, the adj
ministration has lost no opportunity to
point out to these republics that those
VINO seek equity should come with clean
hands. and that whoever claims liberty
as a right must accept the responsible
tiles that go WITH the exercise Of the
right Do our opponents object to what
was done in reference to the petition of
American citizens against the Kishenev
massacre or to the protest against the
treatment of the Jews in Roumania?
-t- e. 10 aer1 IS A1,-N Iax- hesa IA
in behalf of the Arnenians in Turkey
No other administration in our history,
no other government in the world, has
more consistently stood for the broad
est spirit of brotherhood in our COM
mon humanity. or has held a more reso-
lutte attitude of protest against every
wrong that outraged the civilization of
the age. at home or abroad Do our OPP
ponents object to the fact that the in
ternational tribunal at the Hague was
rescued from impotence. and turned in
to a potent instrument for peace among
the nations? This government has used
that tribunal. and advocated its use by
others. in pursuance of its policy to pro-
mote the cause of international peace
and good will by all honorable methods.
In carrying out this policy. it has set
tied dispute after dispute by arbitra-
tion or by friendly agreement. 1t has
behaved towards all nations, strong or
weak. with courtesy, dignity. and jus
tice. and it is now on excellent terms
with all.
Alaskan Boundary.
Do our opponents object to the set
Element of the Alaska boundary line?
Do they object to the fact that after
freeing Cuba we gave her reciprocal
trade advantages with the United 4
States, while at the same time keeping
naval stations in the island and pro-
viding against its sinking into chaos,
or being conquered by any foreign
power? Do they object to the fact
that our flag now flies over Porto
1. s--s
ton of Hawaii? Once they hauled
down" our flag there; we have hoisted
il again; do they intend once more tot
haul it down? Do they. object to the |
part we played in China Do they not /
know that the voice of the United5
states would now count for nothing inHl
the far east if we had abandoned the
Philippines and refused to do what !
was done in China2 Do they object I
to the fact that this government secur- /
ed a peaceful settlement of the trou- /
bles in Venezuela -two-years agO2 Do !
they object to the presence of the ship
of war OFF Colon when the revolution
broke out in Panama and when only /
the presence of this ship saved the /
lives of American citizens. and pre- I
vented insult to the fiag2 Do they |
object to the fact that American war |
ships appeared promptly at the port |
of Beirut when an effort had been /
made to assassinate an American Off |
cial, and in the port Of Tangier when |
ed? and that in each case the wrong /
complained of was righted and eX-
plated and that within the last few |
days the visit of an American squadron /
to Smyrna was followed by the long |
delayed concession of their just rights /
to those Americans concerned in edu- /
catfonal work in Turkey? Do they |
object to the trade treaty with China, /
so full of advantage for the American /
people in the future2 Do they object 1
TO the fact that the ships carrying the 1
national flag now have a higher STAN /
dard than ever before in marksman- ]
ship and in seamanship. as individual /
units and as component parts of squad /
rons and fleets2 If they object to any /
or all of these things. we join issue
with them. Our foreign policy has \
been not only highly advantageous to /
the United States. but hardly less adj |
vantageous to the world a whole. 1
Peace and good will have followed in |
its footsteps. The government has
shown itself no less anxious to respect 1
the rights of others than insistent that \
the rights of Americans be respected /
in return. As for the navy, it has been /
and is now the most potent guarantee |
of peace; and it is such chiefly because /
it is formidable. and ready for use.
That Pension Order.
When our opponents speak of "en-
croachments" by the executive upon l
the authority of congress or the judi
ciary, apparently the act they ordi- /
narily have in viSyv is pension order
No. IS. issued under the auth ority of 1
existing law. This order directed that /
hereafter any veteran of the Civil war
who had reached the age of sixty-two
should be presumptively entitled to the
pension of six dollars a month, given
under the dependent pension law to
those whose ca Dacity to earn their
livelihood by manual labor has been
decreased fifty per cent, and that by
the time the age of seventy was reach
ed the presumption should be that the
physical disability was complete; the
age being treated as an evidential fact