The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1910-09-08

Omaha, Neb.. Sept 1.-Two topics,
closely related, furnished the theme
for a vigorous bat rather brief ad
dress by Col. Theodore Roosevelt
here today. These were the efficiency
of our navy as demonstrated by the
world tour of the battleship feet and
the digging of the Panama canal and
necessity for fortifying that great
waterway. The colonel was received
cordially by the people of Omaha and
his audience was large and enthusias-
tic. His address follows:
In travelling In Europe last spring one
thing which especially struck me was the
fact that the two feats which made the
deepest impression abroad were the cruise
of the battle fleet around the world. and
the digging OF the Panama Canal. These
were the two feats to be credited to the
American people during the past decade
which had most profoundly and favorably
affected foreign judgment of America
during that time. Such judgment depends
not in the least upon what people say
they can do. but what they actually do:
upon their willingness to meet RESPONSE
bilities, and the success of their efforts to
meet them.
WuSt rave EfllClent navy.
Now. there is no use of nation claim
Ing to be q great nation unless II Is pre-
pared to play great part. A nation
such as ours cannot possibly play great
part In international affairs, cannot ex-
pect to be treated as a weight In either
the Atlantic or the Pacific. or to have its
voice as to the Monroe doctrine. or the
management of the Panama Canal, heed
ed. unless 1t has strong and thoroughly
efficient navy. Within the last decade
the American navy has been about
trebled In strength. and much more than
trebled In efficiency due to its extraordl-
nary progress in craftsmanship and ma
neuvering. SO far from this increase in
naval strength representing on our part
either menace of aggression to weaker
nations or a menace of war to stronger
nations, II has told most powerfully for
peace. Everywhere in Europe the cruise
of the battle fleet around the world was
accepted, not only as an extraordinary
feat. rejecting the highest honor upon
our navy. but as one of the movements
which tended markedly to promote peace
full stability In international relations. No
nation regarded the cruise as fraught
with any menace Of hostility to itself;
and yet every nation accepted II as
proof that we were not only desrous
ourselves to keep the peace. but able to
prevent the peace being broken at our
expense. No cruise In any way approach
ing 1t has ever been made by any fleet of
any other power: and the best naval
opinion abroad had been that no such
feat was possible. that is. that no such
cruise as that we actually made could be
undertaken by n fleet of such size with
out innumerable breakdowns and acci-
dents. The success of the cruise. per-
formed II was without a single acci-
dent. immeasurably raised the prestige,
not only of our fleet. but of our Nation:
and was a distinct help to the cause OF
international peace.
As regards the Panama Canal, / really
think that outside nations have q juster
Idea than our own people of the magni-
tude and success of the work. / wish
our people realized what is being done on
the Isthmus. II a man of intelligence
who had never left this country asked me
whether I would advise him to make n
short trip to Europe or a trip to the
Panama Canal, l would, without heslta-
ton, advise him to 80 to the Panama
Canal. He would there see In operation
the completing Of one of the great feats
of modern times Colonel Goethals and
the men working under him are render
ing service to this country which can
only be pnralleled in our past history by
some Of the services rendered in certain
wars.