Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-11-01
DAY OF BIG DEEDS.
Many Large Things Being Done by
he

Many large things are being done by
the United States in a quiet way these
days. Many other large things are In
sight. Two weeks ago Secretary Root |
returned from his trip round the South
American continent. Two days ago
Secretary Taft reached Washington af-
ter establishing peace in Cuba. In each
case these missions were unexampled
Mr.. Root was the first American for
elgn minister who had ever been out
OF his country on official business dur
Ing his term. Mr.. Taft was the first
head of any administrative department
at Washington who had ever become
receiver Of any foreign government.
Each Of these officials did his work with
tact and thoroughness. Secretary Root
travelled 10000 miles while on his mis-
sion, he met the heads Of most of the
South American republics, and on all
OF them he impressed the fact that the
greatest friend they had in the world
vas the United States. The counsel
which he gave to all of them will I'M
questionably be of service in leading
their to see that their interests, at home
and abroad, will be served by policy
of stability, sanity and square dealing
with all the world.
President Roosevelt is to make visit
to Panama, to inspect the work which
has been done on the American zone on
the isthmus, to learn the precise condi-
tons there at first hand, and to be in
a position to recommend to Congress
such legislation as may be needed in
pushing the work of construction. While
at the isthmus the President is likely to
call on the government Of the Panama
republic. This is a regime in which we
have special interest. 1t was Ameri
can sympathy, supplemented by prompt
American recognition, that created Pan
anna. After the republic had been
placed on its feet the United States,
under the obligation to prevent any in
terruption in the trade across the 18TH
mus, prevented the Columbian govern
ment from attempting to subvert the
regime at Panama. By a treaty with
that republic, under which we have OBJ
tanned the right of way for the canal,
we have guaranteed the republics indie
pendence. Thus President Amador's
country, which is the newest and one
of the smallest of the nations of the
earth, has a recognized place on the
worlds map. Panama's position is so
safely buttressed that Colombia, from
which she seeded, is about to recog-
nize her independence. All the rest
Of the impOrtan> governments Of the
world had already done this, following
the example of the United States but
Mexico in the old days never gave full
diplomatic sanction to her separated
colony, the republic of Texas, although
Texas had an independent existence
for nine years before coming into the
American Union.
Mr.. Roosevelt's mission will be as
unprecedented as were those of his two
cabinet department chiefs. No Presi-
dent of the United States thus far has
ever gone out of the country on any
sort of official business. Technically,
Mr.. Roosevelt will be in the United
veyed to and from the isthmus on an
American warship, and theoretically
that vessel will be his domicile while
there. But actually he will be outside
Of the limits of the United States Even
the canal zone is only leased to US.
The title Is in the government of Pan
anna. 1t is believed that while the
President is on his trip to the isthmus
he will call at Havana. For the next
few months, and, probably, forever,
the United States will be in control Of
Cuba. Under the Plat amendment we
took charge Of affairs there on the
collapse Of the Palma government and
we must remain until fair elections for
President, Vice President and members
of Congress are held. The elections
will take place under the machinery pro-
vided by the Cuban laws. But we will
supervise the elections. We will also
be the judges as to whether or not the
elections are fair. Secretary Taft, af-
ter listening to both sides in Cuba re-
garding the elections of 1905, said that
they were rotten" It is our business
now to see that, at the restoration of
Cuban authority, if there ever is to be
a restoration the elections will not be
open to reproach. If President Roose-
welt visits Havana he will get a recep-
ton from natives and foreigners which
will be memorable for its enthusiasm.
The visit, too, will attract the worlds
attention. The United States these
days is blazing new paths in practical
politics and diplomacy, but all are in
the direction of progress and peace All
are calculated to give the United States
q new claim to world leadership in
| civilization and enlightenment.-St
Louis Giobe-Democrat
The Republican Party and Farmer.