The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1910-09-03
KEEP THE NAVY EFFICIENT
AND FORTIFY THE CANAL
Former President Roosevelfs Advice to the
Nation in Speech at Omaha Discusses the
Magnitude and Success of the Vast
Work in Panama.

Omaha. Neb.. Sept. 7.-Two topics.
closely related. furnished the theme
for a vigorous but rather brief ad-
here today. These were the efficiency
Of our navy as demonstrated by the
world tour Of the battleship fleet, and
the digging of the Panama canal and
necessity for fortnying that great
waterway. The colonel WIS 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
hing which especially struck me was the
.act 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 responsi-
bilties. and the success Of their efforts to
meet them.
Must Have Efficient Navy.
Now. there is no use of a nation claim
ing to be a great nation unless 1t is pre-
pared to play a great part. A nation
such as ours cannot possibly play a 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 to the Monroe doctrine. or the
management of the Panama Canal. heed
ed. unless IL has a strong and thoroughly
efficient navy. Within the last decade
rfa ha. bout
trebed in strength, and much more than
trebled in efficiency. due to its extraordi-
nary progress In craftsmanship and ma
neuvering. So far from this increase in
naval strength representing on our part
either IA menace of aggression to weaker
nations a menace Of war to stronger
nations, it 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 AZ fraught
with any menace OF hostility to itself:
and yet every nation accepted IT As a
proof that we not only desirous
ourselves to keep the peace. but able to
prevent the peace being broken at our
Expense. No cruise in any way approach
Ing II 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 In. that no such
cruise as that we actually made could be
undertaken by a fleet OF such size with
ont innumera BILE breakdowns and acci-
dents The success of the cruise. per-
formed II was without a single acct-
dent immeasurably raised the prestige.
NOT only OF our feet. but of our Nation
and was a distinct help to the cause Of
international peace.
As regards the Panama Canal. 1 really
think that outside nations have a juster
idea than our own people of the magni-
tude and success of the work. I wish
our people realized what IL being done on
the Isthmus. II man of intelligence
who had never left this country asked me
whether I would advise him to make a
short trip to Europe. or trip to the
Panama Canal. I would. without hesita-
ton. advise him to 20 to the Panama
Canal He would there see in operation
the completing Of one OF the great feata
of modern times. Colonel Goethals and
the men working under him are render
ing a service to this country which can
only be paralleled in our past history by
some of the services rendered in certain
wars.