The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-12
PRESIDENT SPEAKS
Continued from First Poge.

with the law passed by Congress. Hat
not Panama been promptly recognized
and the transit across the Isthmus KEEP
open In accordance with our treaty right
and obligations, there would have ensue'
endless guerrilla warfare and possibly for
eign conf iNcations; while all chance o.
building the canal would have been deferred
certainly for years, perhaps for a genera
ton OF more, Criticism OF the actor
In this matter rs simply criticism Of the onl
possible a,tion 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 OPP
ponents do not venture to raise the issue
In STRAIGHTFORWARD fashion; for II 30 raised
there would be no issue The decisive
result was the exercise by the President
of the powers vested in him, and In him
alone, BY the Constitution; the power to
recognize foreign Governments by enter
ing 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 slightest
failure to live up to the Constitution to the
letter and in spirit. But the CONSTITUTION
lively. The Presidents duty Is to serve
the country In accordance with the Constitu-
tion. and I should be derelict in my duty
II I used false construction OF the Constttu-
ton as shield for weakness and timidity,
or as an excuse for governmental impo-
tence.
What Do the Democrats Want7
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
truthfuiiy state what has been done, and
then say whether or not they object to 1t;
for II continued In power we shall continue
our foreign policy and our handling OF
the navy on exactly the same lines In the
our foreign 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 up
held? Never before has this doctrine
been aoquiesced In abroad as 1t Is now;
weaker American republics against foreign
aggression, the Administration has lost no
onnort,Inity 10 point out to these republics
that those who seek equity should come
with clean hands, and that whoever claims
liberty as right must accept the RESPONSE
bllities 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 Kishinef
massacre7 or to the protest against the
treatment OF the jews in Rumania? or
to the efforts that have been made IN behalf
lx T,.lr ~ n NJ
Administration in our history, no other
Government In the world, has more CON-
sistently stood for the broadcast spirit OF
brotherhood in our common humanity, or
has held more resolute attitude OF protest
against every wrong that outraged the
Do our opponents OBJ cot to the fact that the
International tribunal at The Hague was
rescued from impotence, and turned into
q potent instrument OF peace among the
nationsf This Government has used that
tribunal. and advocated its use by others.
cause Of international peace and good will
BY all honorable methods. In carrying
out this policy 1t has settled dispute after
dispute by arbitration or by friendly agree
ment. It has behaved toward all nations,
s snS Es or ws sad Il now en s
terms with all.
Do our opponents object to the settle
ment of the Alaska boundary line? Do
they object to the fact that after freeing
Cuba We gave. her reciprocal trade I'D.
the same time keeping naval stations In the
island and providing against its sinking
foreign Powerf Do they object to the fact
that our flag now flies over Porto Rico!
Do they object to the acquisition OF Hawaii
Once they @hauled down" our flag there;
we have hoisted It again; do they intend
once more TO haul It down? Do they OBJ
ject to the part we played In China? Do
they not know that the voice OF the United
States would now count for nothing In the
pines and refused Il, do what was done
In Chinas Do they object to the fact that
this Government secured o peaceful set
Element Of the troubles In Venezuela two
years agof Do they object to the presence
Of the ship-of-war on Colon when the
revolution broke out in Panama, and when
only the presence Of this ship saved the
lives of American citizens, and prevented
Insult to the flag? Do they object to the
fact that American warships appeared
promptly at the port OF Beirut when an
effort had been made to assassinate an
eier when an American citizen had been
abductedf and that in each case the wrong
complained Of was righted and expiated?
and that within the last few days the visit
OF an American squadron 10 smyrna was
followed by the long-delayed concession
of their Just rights to those Americans
concerned In educational work in Turkey?
Do they object to the trade treaty with
China, SO full OF advantage for the Ameri-
can people in the future2 Do they object
to the fact that the ships carrying the ma
tionel flag now have a higher standard
than ever before in Workmanship and In
seamanship, as individual units and as
component parts Of squadrons and fleetsp
II they object to any or all OF these things,
we Join Issue with them. Our foreign
policy has been not only highly advanta-
geous to the United States, but hardly less
advantageous to the world as whole.
Peace and good win have followed In It's
self no less anxious to respect the rights
Of others than insistent that the rights
Of Americans be, respected in return. As
for the navy, 1t has been and is now the
most potent guarantee Of peace and II
Is such chiefly because 1t is formidable
and ready for use.
Pension order Defended.
When our opponents speak Of sencroach-
ments' by the Executive upon the authority
Of Congress or the Judiciary, apparently
the act they ordinarily have. in view Is
Pension Order No. 70, issued under the
authority Of existing law. This order
directed that hereafter any veteran Of the
civil war who had reached the age Of 90
should be presumptively entitled to the
pension Of 36 month given under the
dependent pension law TO those whose
capacity to earn their livelihood by manual
IL L. zw.t axl