Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-09-04
Naturalization

1t was anticipation Of a demand on
the part Of the international peace sd-
vocates for naturalization on the canal
zone that led Colonel Roosevelt to
take advantage of the occasion of his
public address at Omaha to say. and to
say II emphatieally, that Uncle Sans
next big job after completion of the
ditch and locks is to foTtify the works
and to make sure Of holding them
against all Corners. Colonel Roosevelt
does not believe in naturalization in
the form that it is likely to be pro-
posed under some international agree
ment between the big world powers
either to keep the canal open alike to
all or to shut 1t alike to all who may
be engaged in conflict on the high seas.
He believes that the canal waited for
the United States to build 1t because
no other power had both the grit and
the resources to do the work, and that
as Uncle Sam is the man behind the
shovel he ought to have preferential
benefits produced by his labor If any
one is to have any advantage out of it.
The Panama canal is peculiarly an
American institution of most direct and
vital concern to our people, making
as IT does, our shore line almost con-
tinuous instead of being cut, as now,
in two remote halves separated by q
continent compelling a detour of thou
sands and thousands of miles, consum-
ing weeks of time to pass from our
east coast to our west coast. The
naturalization of the canal zone and
of the canal Colonel Roosevelt 10 con-
vinced would, instead of strengthen
ing us with other world powers, actu-
ally weaken us and expose US to their
mercy, If not make our nation a laugh
ing stock the world over.
This is a subject of momentous inn
port, which, it must be confessed, has
SO far not attracted the attention 1t
deserves, or rather has attracted prao-
tically no attention at all BY what
we are doing at Panama Uncle Sam
will have transformed the face of the
map, making the greatest change in
the configuration of the globe that has
ever been artifcially produced. We
are spending hundreds of millions of
dollars to accomplish this colossal
task, and the few millions that would
be needed for effective fertilization
and defense would be a comparatively
small item, big as it would look.
Colonel Roosevelt's idea is that the
only naturalization of the canal zone
that should be permitted should be its
naturalization by the United States
itself, which will be maintained as
neutral territory by such conduct as
will maintain our dignity and power
abroad and put other powers in awe
some fear of tackling us without just
cause. In this way we would have
| complete naturalization whenever
world peace reached that point which
would guarantee to every foot OF
American soil immunity from foreign
attack, and not till then.
We venture the guess that what
Colonel Roosevelt said at Omaha about
our policy with reference to the canal
zone was transmitted to the foreign
ofices of all the great naval nations
before twenty-four hours had elapsed
and that it will arouse intense interest
in inner circles abroad far greater
than here in this country. There il
food for deep thought in this program
and although the completion of the
canal is possibly five years off, it IL
none too early for us to study the sit
uation soberly and carefully and hear
all sides that may be presented. I'm.
less the advocates of naturalization
have some convincing arguments not
yet offered our people will expect
Uncle Sam to stand guard over the
Panama isthmus and say to the world
mo thoroughfare except with my per.
mission"
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