nations must possess power to back it up if she wishes the doctrine to be respected." BLUSTER WITHOUT FORCE WORSE THAN ABANDONMENT (Speech at Chicago, April 2, 1903.) "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 fighting strength which in the last resort can alone make it respected by any strong foreign power whose interest it may ever happen to be to violate it." "SPEAK SOFTLY AND CARRY A BIG STICK” "There is a homely old adage which runs: 'Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.' If the American Nation will speak softly, and yet build, and keep at a pitch of the highest training, a thoroughly efficient Navy, the Monroe Doctrine will go far." |