Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1904-10-06

sumes to BE Lord Protector of the
come Guardian of the Universe.
Meantime the Trusts Are lntrcnch-
ed ut Warrington.
IF continued in power" says Pr ,si-
dent Roosevelt in his letter of accept
ance, I'VE shall continue our foreign
policy and our handling of the navy Oh
exactly the same lines in the future
as in the past" And again. Il should
be derelict in my duty if used false
construction of the constitution as !;
shield for weakness and timidity or as
an excuse for governmental impo-
tence."
There speaks the natural, unmuz-
zled Roosevelt, who announced in his
Cuban letter:
If nation knows how to act with de-
cency in Industrial and political matters,
u 1t keeps order and pays its obligations,
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 in reality identical. All
that we ask Ia that they shall govern
themselves well and be prosperous and
orderly.
The country knows now what to ex-
90 rv4xync, <1,n
mandate to swing his big stick" over
the heads of the world in general, and
the western hemisphere in particular,
1t will do so with its eyes open.
Mr.. Roosevelt boasts that his foreign
policy Of universal weddings has been
mot only highly advantageous to the
United States, but hardly less advan-
tageous to the world as whole" Who
authorized him to look after the in
terests Of ''the world as 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 1.-The
world as whole" No great for
eign statesman ever felt under any
such obligation. Bismarck, Gladstone,
Theirs, even Chamberlain, found am
pie occupation in promoting the vel
fare of their own nations. Washing
ton, whose mind was broad enough to
include all humanity in its scope, linn
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 a 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 effective 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, 665 regular troops and S4O,16O
trained reserves, must inspire frac-
ton over five times as much respect
among foreign governments as is given
to the United States, with 63697 regu-
lars and 124.515 organized militiamen.
The navy is 1.-THE most potent guaran-
tee Of peace" shouts the president,
''chiefy because it is formidable and
ready for USE" Ready for use against
whom? Can Mr.. Roosevelt name sin.
gle European power that would be SO
insane as 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 @'nse" can we have for a
great war navy except for. jingoism-
for carrying ont that dictatorship over
South America outlined in the Cuban
letter and that policy Of Astatic dom
ination propounded in the present let
ter Of acceptance7
II we are looking for the enemies OF
the republic they are easy to find, hut
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 litter
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.
II cotton planter whose crops were
infested with boil weevil should stand
guard at his front gate with club to
protect his fields against grizzly bears
he could congratulate himself upon
furnishing a perfect imitation Of the
craftsmanship for which Theodore