National Duties 237 



not save him from trouble ; and neither will speaking 

 softly avail, if back of the softness there does not lie 

 strength, power. In private life there are few beings 

 more obnoxious than the man who is always loudly 

 boasting; and if the boaster is not prepared to back 

 up his words his position becomes absolutely con 

 temptible. So it is with the nation. It is both foolish 

 and undignified to indulge in undue self-glorifica 

 tion, and, above all, in loose-tongued denunciation 

 of other peoples. Whenever on any point we come 

 in contact with a foreign power, I hope that we shall 

 always strive to speak courteously and respectfully 

 of that foreign power. Let us make it evident that 

 we intend to do justice. Then let us make it equally 

 evident that we will not tolerate injustice being done 

 to us in return. Let us further make it evident that 

 we use no words which we are not prepared to back 

 up with deeds, and that while our speech is always 

 moderate, we are ready and willing to make it good. 

 Such an attitude will be the surest possible guar 

 antee of that self-respecting peace, the attainment of 

 which is and must ever be the prime aim of a self- 

 governing people. 



This is the attitude we should take as regards the 

 Monroe Doctrine. There is not the least need of 

 blustering about it. Still less should it be used as a 

 pretext for our own aggrandizement at the expense 

 of any other American state. But, most emphati- 



