

And State Papers 265 



mankind in general. We do not intend to assume 

 any position which can give just offence to our 

 neighbors. Our adherence to the rule of human 

 right is not merely profession. The history of our 

 dealings with Cuba shows that we reduce it to per 

 formance. 



The Monroe Doctrine is not international law, 

 and though I think one day it may become such, 

 this is not necessary as long as it remains a car 

 dinal feature of our foreign policy and as long as we 

 possess both the will and the strength to make it 

 effective. This last point, my fellow-citizens, is all 

 important, and is one which as a people we can never 

 afford to forget. I believe in the Monroe Doctrine 

 with all my heart and soul; I am convinced that 

 the immense majority of our fellow-countrymen so 

 believe in it; but I would infinitely prefer to see us 

 abandon it than to see us put it forward and bluster 

 about it, and yet fail to build up the efficient fight 

 ing strength which in the last resort can alone make 

 it respected by any strong foreign power whose in 

 terest it may ever happen to be to violate it. 



Boasting and blustering are as objectionable 

 among nations as among individuals, and the public 

 men of a great nation owe it to their sense of na 

 tional self-respect to speak courteously of foreign 

 powers, just as a brave and self-respecting man 

 treats all around him courteously. But though to 

 boast is bad, and .causelessly to insult another, worse, 

 yet worse than all is it to be guilty of boasting, even 

 without insult, and when called to the proof to be 



