The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-10-24

will infiict any permanent damage. or
cause any serious delay The work
can be done. is being done. and will be
done. What has already been accom-
pIlshed is guaranty as TO the future
1 call your attention specifically 10
the matter of health on the Isthmus.
The climate was supposed to be dead
supposed to be epidemic. Yet since
we have assumed control there has
been far less yellow fever than in our
own country. The administration is
steadily becoming better and more eff
fective. from the hygienic as well as
from every other. standpoint. The
work of building the canal is great
American work, in which the whole
American people are interested. 1t has
nothing to do with parties or PARTISAN
ship. and is being carried on with alb
soiute disregard to all merely political
considerations: with regard only to eff
ficiency. honesty. and economy.
The digging of the canal will. OF
course. greatly increase our interest n
the Caribbean Sea. 1t will be our duty
to police the canal both in the interest
Of other nations and in our own inter-
est. To do this it is. Of course. indis-
Densible to have an efficient navy
land [ am happy to say that We are
well on our way toward having onet.
and also to possess. as we already pos
seSs. certain strategic points to con-
troll the approach to the canal. In ad-
dition it is urgently necessary that the
insular and continental countries with
in or bordering upon the Caribbean
Sea should be able to secure fair deal
ing and orderly liberty within their
own borders. | need not say that the
United States not only has no purpose
of aggression upon any Republic. con-
tinental or insular. to the south of us,
but has the friendlest feeling toward
them. and desires nothing save their
progress and prosperity. We do not
wish another foot Of territory: and [
think our conduct toward Cuba is
guaranty that this is our genuine atti-
tude toward all our sister republics.
If ever we should have to interfere in
the affairs of any of orr neighbors it
would only be when we found it i'm
possible longer to refrain from doing
so without serious damage following:
and even in such case it would only be
with the sincere and effective purpose
to make our interference beneficial to
the peoples concerned Of course. oc-
cupying the position we do. occasions
may now and then arise when we can
not refrain from such interference.
save under penalty of seeing some
other strong nation undertake the duty
which we neglect: and such neglect
would be unfortunate from more than
one standpoint. Wherever possible we
should gladly give any aid we can to
weaker sister republic which is en-
deavoring to achieve stability nd pros
perity. 1T is an ungenerous thing for
us to refuse such aid: and it is foolish
not to give it in a way that will make
1T really effective. and therefore of
direct benefit to the people concerned
and of indirct benefit to us. simply
because it is a benefit to them In the
last resort and only in the last resort.
it may occasionally be necessary ID
interfere by exercising what is virtual
ly an international police power. if
only to avoid seeing some European
power forced to exercise it. In short.
while We must interfere always eau
tiously. and never wantonly: yet OH
rare occasions. where the need is
great it may be necessary to interfere.
unless we are willing to confess our
selves too feeble for the task we have
undertaken. and to avoid that we arc
willing to surrender it into stronger
hands: and such confession and avowai
know my countrymen too we'll to be-
lieve that they will ever make.
Visits Negro School
At the conclusion of his speech the
President was driven to the Third
Baptist Acadmey, where he spoke
briefly. Preceding his speech there
was a brief ceremony in the Assem- MY
hall in which the students participant
ed This consisted of the singing of
number of songs, especially written
for the occasion. The last one. enti-
tied, You Are all Right, Teddy" caus
ed the President to smile broadly
The President was then conducted 70
stand in front of the academy, where
he made his speech
The President and his party were
then driven around the city, after
which they were taken to the depot
At 5:45 p. m. the President left Tor
st. Augustine.