The Washington times., 1905-10-21

great enterprise in civil life; there are
always weaklnss who get trampled
down or lose heart, and there are always
people who listen TO their complaints.
They amount to nothing one way or the
othe-= so far as achieving results is con-
cerned; and their complaints and out
cries need never detain us.
call your attention specifically to the
matter of health on the lsthmus. The
climate was supposed to be deadly, and
yellow fever. in especial, was supposed
70 be epidemic Yet since we have as
sumed control there has been far less
yellow fever than in our own country.
The administration is steadily becoming
better and more effective, from the hy-
gienic as well as from every other,
standpoint. The work of building the
canal is a great American work, in
which the whole American people are in
ties or partisanship, and is being carried
on with absolute disregard to all merely
political considerations; with regard only
TO efficiency, honesty, and economy.
Must Police Canal.
The digging of the canal will. of course.
greatly increase our interest in the
Caribbean Sea 1t will be our duty to
police the canal. both in the interest OF
other nations and in our own interest.
To do this Ii is. of course, Indispensable
to have an efficient navy land i am
happy TO say that we are well on our
way toward having one), and also to
possess. as we already possess. certain
strategic points to control the approach
to the canal. In addition II Is urgently
necessary that the insular and Continen-
tai countries within or bordering upon
the Caribbean Sea should be able to Sc
cure fair dealings and orderly liberty
within their own borders. need not
say that the United States not only has
no purpose OF aggression upon any Re-
public. continental or insular. TO the
south of US, but has the friendliest feel
ing toward them, and desires nothing
save their progress and prosperity We
do not wish another foot of territory.
ana think our conduct toward Cuba
is guaranty that this is our genuine
attitude toward all our sister republics.
III ever We should have to interfere
IN the affairs OF any OF our neIgnbor.,
II 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
De with the sincere and effective pur-
pose 10 make our. Interference benefi-
ciai 10 the peoples concerned or
course, occupying the position we do
occasions may now and then arise
Wnen we can not refrain from such
i,nter1erence save under penalty OF see
ing some other strong nation undertake
the duty which we neglect: and such
neglect would be unfortunate from
more than one standpoint.
Would Aid Weaker.
Wherever possible we should gladly
give any aid we can TO a weaker sis.
ter republic which Is endeavoring to
achieve stability and prosperity. 1t is
an ungenerous thing for us to refuse
such aid; and IL is foolish not TO give
It In way that viii make 1t really
effective. and therefore of direct bene-
mt to the people concerned: and of in
direct benefit TO Us, simply because 1t
Is benefit TO them. In the last re-
sort. and only in the last resort. it may
occasionally be necessary to interfere
j Dy exercising what is virtually an in
ternational police power II only to
avoid seeing some European power
ferced to exercise Il. In short while
we. must interfere always cautiously.
and never wantonly; yet. on rare occa-
sions, where the need is great, IL may
be necessary to interfere, unless we are
willing TO confess ourselves too feeble
the task we have undertaken, and
10, ayow that we are willing TO sur
render II into stronger hands; and such
confession and avowal / know my
eountrymen too well to believe that
they viii ever make.