New-York tribune., 1910-09-03
'SAYS AMERICA IS BEST
Continued from first page.
b,a Gathered in the club grounds tc
meet the hero of San Juan.
Elaborate Programme Modiheo'

erahlv more elaborate pTOSi diiinN ~
heen materially modified. and II was not
until 4 O'Clock that the first really pup
lie affair of the day took place At trd'
hour Colonel Roosevelt entered the
Auditorium, where he found not less
than seven thousand persons packed In
like sardines. despite the great neat anu
a lusty cheer arose as he walked on the
stage.
The meeting was called to order by
Victor Rosewater the Nebraska MEM
ber of the national committee, who I'M
nediately introduced Senator Burkett
Mr.. Burkett euIogized the people OF Ne
braska and their guest in spread
eagle speech, and then presented tne
most distinguished man in all the world,
Colonel Theodore Roosevelt"
Mr.. Roosevelt paid high tribute TO Sen
ator Burkett. on whom, he said. he had
confidently relied, both when he was in
the House and while he was Senator, TO
help him carry on the work he strove
to achieve as President. Finally. bow
ing to both Senators Burkett and Dol
liver. he said: II was able to accomplish
what I did in Washington only because
was backed by men like Senators
Burkett and Dolliver."
Cruise of Battlesfip Fleet Described.
Mr.. Roosevelt then took up his previ~
ously prepared address, discussing the
circumnavigating cruise of the battle
ship fleet and the construction of the
Panama Canal as the two achievements
which more than any others had done
most to compel the respect of the ma
tions of the world for the United States
He sent the feet around the world. he
said, mot as a menace to any nation,
but as the strongest kind of provocative
to friendliness." He described how "the
coordinate branch had declared that
the fleet should not sail around the
world, and had purposed to withhold the
necessary appropriation, but, he said, Il
informed them that I had the money TO
send it to the Pacific and that / in
tended to send it there, and then il they
did not want to appropriate the money
to bring it back that was their affair"
Naturally, Mr.. Roosevelt's remarks were
received with the utmost applause. 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 We're
the two feats to be credited to the American
people during the past decade which had
most profoundly and faVOrably affected for
eign judgment Of America during that time.
Such judgment depends not N the least
upon what people say they can do. but on
what they actually do; upon their willing
ness to meet responsibilities and the success
of their efforts to meet them
Now, there is no use of a nation claim
ing to be a great nation unless IL IS pre-
pared to play great part a nation Such
ours cannot possibly play a great part
in International affairs, cannot expect to
be treated as weight in either the At
iantic or the Pacific, or to have its voice
to the Monroe Doctrine or the manage
ment of the Panama Canal needed unless
it has a 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 extraordinary progress in marks
manShip and manRuvrlng- So far from
this increase In naval strength represent
ing on our part either menace of aggres-
to stronger nations, it has told most pow
erfully for peace.
Accepted as Extraordinary Feat.
Everywhere in Europe the cruise of the
battle fleet around the world was accepted
not only an extraordinary feat. reflect
ing the highest honor upon our navy, but
as one of the movements which tended
markedly to promote peaceful stability in
international relations. No nation regarded
the cruise as fraught with any menace of
hostility to itself: and yet every nation ac-
cepted it as proof that we were not only
desirous ourselves to keep the peace but
able to prevent the peace being broken at
our expense. No cruise in any way ap-
preaching it has ever been made by any
fleet of any other power, and the best naval
opinion abroad has been that no such feat
was possible; that Is, that no such cruise
as that we actually made could be under
taken by fleet of such size without in
Vulnerable breakdownS and accidents The
success of the cruise. performed as il was
without a single accident. immeasurably
but of our nation. and was a distinct help
to the cause of Internal tionaI peace.
As regards the Panama Canal. I really
think that outside nations have a juster
idea than our own people of the mag
nitude and success of the work. | wish
our people realized what is being done
who had never left this country asked me
whether l would advise him TO make a
short trip to Europe or trip TO the Pan
anna Canal. would without hesitation ad-
wise him to go to the Panama Canal He
would there see i'll operation the complet-
ing of one of the great feats OF modern
times. Colonel Goethals and the men work
ing under him are rendering a service to
this country which can only be paralleled
In our past history by some OF the services
rendered in certain wars.
Six years ago last spring the American
government took possession of the iSthmuS.
The first two years were devoted to the
sanitation of the fSthmus 10 assembling
the plant and the working force and pro-
viding quarters, food and water supplies
In all these points the success was eX-
traordinary From one of the plague spots
of the globe. one of the most unhealthy
regions In the entire world. the isthmus has
been turned into a sinsularly healthy place
of abode, where the death rate is small
now being raised under favorable con-
ditions as in most parts of the United
States. The quarters food and water sup
ply are excellent and the plant the best
ever gathered for such purpose. Active
excavation on large scale did not begin
have gone by since then. and three-ffths
Of the total excavation has already been
accomplished. Tie amount taken out has
passed anything which previous experience
warranted lis in believing to be possible
In 1908 and 1909 the monthly average of rock
yards. Notwithstanding the fact that nine
months OF each year constituted a season
of very heavy rainfall.
There remains to he eXCayated only about
sixty million cubic yards If we could keep
up the past average of excavation this
Impossible to maintain such a ratio as
the depth increases. for the output neces-
Sarily diminishes as the field of operation
narrows. Still, II is certain that such a
rate can be maintained will enable the
workers TO finish the excavation consider
ably in advance of the date fixed for open-
ing the canal-Jauuary l, 1915 Indeed I
shall be surprised if the canal cannot he
opened six months or even wear in ad-
vance of the time set.