President Roosevelt, who is now by far the greatest force
in the United States, evidently intends that the Republic shall be a weighty power in the world's affairs. Speaking on November 11th to the Chamber of Commerce, the President of course eulogised peace. He declared that while the Republic would help the weaker Powers if they would only deal honestly and fairly—observe that, gentlemen of Spanish America--with the Great Powers he wished only for an "honourable" rivalry. But "remember that we shall be a potent factor for peace largely in. proportion to the way we make it evident that our attitude is due, not to inability to defend ourselves, but to a genuine repugnance to wrongdoing. The voice of the just man armed is potent. We need to keep in a condition of preparedness, especially as regards our Navy, not because we want war, but because we desire to stand with those whose plea for peace is listened to with respectful atten- tion." Words like those from the bead of the richest Republic in the world are worthy the "respectful attention," not only of swashbucklers, but of the most serious diplomatists.
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