And State Papers 91 



selves as a nation during- the past four years; and 

 therefore I believe that it is only a matter of time 

 and I trust only a matter of a very short time 

 before we enter into reciprocal trade relations with 

 Cuba. 



The Isthmian Canal is to be one of the greatest, 

 probably the greatest, engineering feat of the 2Oth 

 century ; and I am glad it is to be done by America. 

 We must take care that it is done under the best con 

 ditions and by the best Americans. There are certain 

 preliminary matters to settle. When this has been 

 done, the first question will come upon choosing the 

 commission which is to supervise the building of 

 the canal. And but one thought here is permis 

 sible how to get the very best men of the highest 

 engineering and business and administrative skill, 

 who will consent to undertake the work. If possi 

 ble, I wish to see those men represent different sec 

 tions and different political parties. But those ques 

 tions are secondary. The primary aim must be to 

 get men who, though able to control much greater 

 salaries than the nation is able to pay, nevertheless 

 possess the patriotism and the healthy ambition 

 which will make them put their talents at the gov 

 ernment's service. 



So much for what has been done in the Occident. 

 In the Orient the labor was more difficult. 



It is rare indeed that a great work, a work su 

 premely worth doing, can be done save at the cost 

 not only of labor and toil, but of much puzzling 

 worry during the time of the performance. Nor- 



