Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1905-12-05

may be possible to exercise some check
upon the tendency to swell indefinitely
the budgets for military expenditure.
OF course such an effort could succeed
only Il it did not attempt to do too
much and II 1t were undertaken in a
spirit Of sanity as far removed as pos
sible from q merely hystericaI pseudo
philanthropy. 1t is worth while point
ing out that since the end Of the insur-
rection In the Philippines this nation
has shown its practical faith In the
policy Of disarmament by reducing its
little army one-third. But disarma-
ment can never be Of prime impor-
lance. There Is more need to get rid OF
the causes OF war than Of the nipple
ments Of war. e #
I have dwelt much on the dangers to
be avoided by steering clear Of any
mere foolish sentimentality because
my wish for peace is SO genuine and
earnest; because / have real and
great desire that this second Hague
conference may mark long stride for
ward In the direction Of securing the
peace Of justice throughout the world.
No object is better worthy the atten-
ton of enlightened craftsmanship than
the establishment of surer method
than now exists of securing justice as
between nations both for the protection
Of the little nations and for the proven
ton Of war between the big nations.
To this aim we should endeavor not
only to avert bloodshed, but, above all,
effectively to strengthen the forces of
right. The golden rule should be, and
as the world grows in morality it will
be, the guiding rule of conduct among
nations as among individuals, though
the golden rule must not be construed
in fantastic manner, as forbidding the
exercise of the police power. This
mighty and free republic should ever
deal with all other states, great or
small, on basis Of high honor, re-
speeding their rights as jealousy as it
safeguards it's own
@ 5', Monroe Doctrine. @..
!, One Of the most effective instru-
ments for peace is the Monroe doctrine
as 1t has been and Is being gradually
developed by this nation and accepted
by other nations. No other policy could
haves been as efficient in promoting
peace In the western hemisphere and
in giving to each nation thereon the
chance to develop along its own lines.
If we had refused to apply the doctrine
to changing conditions it would now
be completely outworn, would not meet
any Of the needs of the present day
and indeed would probably by this time
have sunk into complete oblivion. 1t
Is useful at home and is meeting with
recognition abroad because we have
adapted our application Of it to meet
the growing and changing needs OF
the hemisphere. When we announce q
policy, such as the Monroe doctrine, we
thereby commit ourselves to the conse-
quences Of the policy, and those conse-
quences from time to time alter. It
Is out Of the question to claim q right
and yet shirk the responsibility for its
exercise. Not only we, but all Ameri-
can republics who are benefited by the
existence of the doctrine, must recog-
nize the obligations each nation is I'M
der as regards foreign peoples no less
than it's duty to insist upon its own
rights.
That our rights and interests are
deeply concerned in the maintenance
of the doctrine is SO clear as hardly to
need argument. This is especially true
in view Of the construction Of the Pan
anna canal. As mere matter Of self
defense we must exercise q close watch
over the approaches to this canal, and
this means that we must be thoroughly
alive to our interests in the Caribbean
sea.
No Designs on South America.
There are certain essential points
which must never be forgotten as re-
CARDS the Monroe doctrine. In the first
place, we must as a nation make it ev-
ident that we do not intend to treat it
In any shape or way as an excuse for
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT on our part at the ex-
pense Of the republics to the south. We
must recognize the fact that in some
South American countries there has
been much suspicion lest we should
interpret the Monroe doctrine as In
some way tnimical to their interests,
and we must try to convince all the
other nations of this continent once
and for all that no Just and orderly
government has ANYTHING to fear from
us. There are certain republics to the
south Of us which have already reached
such a point of stability, order and
prosperity that they themselves, though
as yet hardly consciously, are among
the guarantors of this doctrine. These
republics we now meet not only on a
basis Of entire equality, but in a spirit
Of frank and respectful friendship,
which we hope is mutual. If all of the