The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-23
ACTION JUSTIFIED BY
THE MONROE DOCTRINE
Ex-Secretary Roots Defense OF
Governments Course Concern
ing the Panama Revolution.
FOR THE WORLDS GOOD

CHICAGO, Feb. 22.-The anniversary of
the birth Of George Washington was OBJ
served here to-day by the Union League
Club. with two meetings at the Auditorium
Theater, one I'm the morning and the other
In the afternoon. and banquet tonight TO
the members of the club. The principal
exercise was held in the afternoon, when
Elihu Root, former secretary of war, de-
livered an address on 1.-THE Ethics of the
Panama Question" The words of the
secretary were listened to with great inter-
est by an audience that filed the Auditor
jun Theater to OVERLOOKING. Among other
things, Mr.. Root said:
The Monroe doctrine itself, upon which
we stand so firmly, is an assertion of our
right for our own interest. to interfere with
the action or every other nation In those
parts of the hemisphere where others are
sovereign and where we have no sovereignty
or claim OF sovereignty, and to say II you
do thus and so, even by the consent OF the
sovereign, we shall regard II as an unfriend-
ly act because 1t will affect US injuriously.
II is said that the Monroe doctrine is not
rule of international law. 1t is not a rule at
all. 1t Is an assertion Of a right under the
universal rule that all sovereignty is held
subject to limitations in its exercise arising
from the just interests of other nations
by the rules Of right and justice univer-
sally recognized among men and which are
the law of nations, the sovereignty of Co
lombia over the Isthmus OF Panama was
qualified and limited by the right of the
other civilized nations of the earth TO have
the canal constructed across the isthmus
and TO have II maintained for their free and
unobstructed passage.
I'VE will dig the canal, not for selfish rea-
sons, not for greed OF gain, but for the
worlds commerce, benefiting Colombia
most OF ALL. We shall not get back the
money we spend upon the canal any more
than we shall get back the money we have
expended to make Cuba a free and indie
pendent republic. the money we have
expended TO set the people of the Philip
pines on the path of ordered liberty and
competency for self-government. But we
shall promote our commerce, shall unite
our Atlantic and Pacific coasts, we shall
render inestimable service to mankind and
we shall grow in greatness and honor and
In the strength that comes from difficult
tasks accomplished and from the exercise
great constructive people"
At the forenoon meeting, 5000 pupils of
the public schools gathered at the Auditor
ium to sing the anthems and war songs Of
the United States and 10 listen TO adj
dresses on themes Of a patriotic nature.
Among those who spoke at the meeting
were DR.. William G.. Frost, of Berea Col
lege. Kentucky, who took for his subject
what Makes a Great Mani" and Mrs
Marion Foster Washburn, of Elkhart Ind
The closing event OF the days celebra-
ton was a banquet to the members of the
club and their friends After former Sec
rotary Root had responded to a toast adj
dresses were delivered by Judge Emery
Speer. of the United States District Court
OF Georgia. and DR.. w. j. Tucker, presi-
dent of Dartmouth College. Judge Speer
spoke on the American President" and
DIR. Tucker on What Has Patriotism the
Right 10 Demand OF Education