St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1905-12-06

the cause of international peace, justice
and good will.
We must as nation make it evil
dent that we do not intend to treat the
Monroe doctrine in any shape or way
as an excuse for ACKNOWLEDGMENT on our
part at the expense of the republics to
the south. But we must make it evil
dent that we do not intend to permit it
to be used by any nation on this CONT
nent as a shield to protect it from the
consequences of its own misdeeds
against foreign nations.
Santo Domingo has now made an ap-
peal to us, and not only every principle
of wisdom, but every generous instinct
within us, bids us respond to the ap-
peal. The conditions in Santo Do
mingo have for a number of years
grown from bad to worse until a year
ago all society was on the verge of dis
solution. Under the course taken by us
stability and order and all the benefits
of peace are at last coming to Santo
Domingo, danger of foreign interven-
ton has been suspended, and there is at
last prospect that all creditors will
get justice, no more and no less.
l do not believe that any army in the
world has a better average of enlisted
man or a better type of junior officer.
but the army should be trained to act
effectively in mass. Provision
should be made by sufficient appropria-
tons for maneuvers Of a practical
kind, for the promotion of exceptional
ly meritorious men over the heads of
their comrades and for the retirement
Of all men who have reached a given
age without getting beyond a given
rank.
Our navy must, relatively to the ma
vies Of other nations, always be Of
greater size than our army. We have
most wisely continued for a number of
years to build up our navy, and it
has now reached fairly high standard
Of efficiency. This standard must not
only be maintained. but increased.
In my last message l asked the at
tention of the congress to the urgent
need of action to make our criminal
law more effective, and I most ear
nestly request that you pay heed to the
report Of the attorney general on this
subject.
To the spread Of our trade in peace
and the defense of our flag in war a
great and prosperous merchant marine
Is indispensable. We should have ships
Of our own and seamen of our own to
convey our goods to neutral markets
and in case of need to REINFORCE our
battle line.
1t Is matter of unmixed satisfac-
ton to call attention to the excellent
work Of the pension bureau, for the vet
Grams Of the Civil war have a greater
claim upon us than any other class Of
citizens. To them first Of all among our
people honor is due.
We cannot have too much immigra-
ton of the right sort, and we should
have none whatever of the wrong sort
The questions arising In connection
with Chinese immigration stand by
themselves. Asa people we have talked
much of the open door in China, and we
expect and quite rightly intend to insist
upon Justice being shown us by the
Chinese. But we cannot expect to re-
ceive equity unless we do equity.
The civil service rule has been amend
ed by providing that where the inef-
ficiency or incapacity comes within the
personal knowledge Of the head of a
department the removal may be made
without notice, the reasons therefor be-
ing filed and made record Of the de-
partment.
Our copyright laws need revision.
The agricultural conditions Of the ISL
ands enforce more strongly than ever
the argument in favor of reducing the
tariff on products of the Philippine ISL
ands entering the United States.
Immediate steps should be taken for
the fertilization of Hawaii. This is the
most important point in the Pacific to
fortify in order to conserve the inter-
ests of this country. 1t would be hard
to overstate the Importance of this
need.
earnestly advocate the adoption of
legislation which will explicitly confer
American citizenship on all citizens of
Porto Rico.
I earnestly ask that Alaska be given
an elective delegate
recommend that Indian Territory
and Oklahoma be admitted as one state
and that New Mexico and Arizona be
admitted as one state.
Active work in canal construction,
mainly preparatory, has been in prog.
ress for less than year and a half.
During that period two points about
the canal have ceased to be open to
debate. First, the question of route
second, the question Of feasibility. The
point which remains unsettled Is wheth.
er the canal shall be one of several
locks above sea level or at sea level
with single tide lock- On this point
7 hope to lay before the congress at an
early day the findings Of the advisory
board Of American and European en-
gineers.
In addition to sanitating the isthmus
satisfactory quarters are being provid
ed for employees and an adequate sys
tenn of supplying them with wholesome
food at reasonable prices has beer
created. HOSPITALS have been estab