Of course the politicians in Colombia howled with rage.  A tricky horse-dealer, who has a horse which he has abused for years, but desires to sell to a customer for four times its value, would be angry if the horse ran away, and he lost not only the animal, but also his chances of swindling the customer.  So with the Colombians.  Some people in this country took up their cry, and professed to feel great sorrow for Colombia.  It was noticed, however, that this sorrow seemed to afflict most pitifully the people who were strongest in their opposition to Mr. Roosevelt, and this caused a suspicion that their pretended horror at the act of our Government was not so much based upon any knowledge of the facts, as upon a readiness to think evil of the President.  Others who joined in an expression of grief at the time, and later attempted to bolster up Colombia’s claims for damages, belonged to that class referred to in connection with the sinking of the Maine, who always think the best of any foreign country and suspect the worst of their own.

The fact that other countries instantly recognized Panama, and that President Roosevelt’s action was completely and emphatically endorsed by Secretary Hay, proved that the Panama incident was an example of the promptness, wisdom and courage in the conduct of foreign relations which leads alike to justice and the satisfactory settlement of difficult problems.  For not the bitterest opponent of Mr. Roosevelt’s administration ever dared to cast a shadow of doubt upon the honesty of Secretary Hay.  The canal is now built, thanks in large part to President Roosevelt, and we have had a chance to see that wise decisions may often be reached swiftly; whereas dawdling, hesitation and timidity, which are sometimes mistaken for statesmanship, are more than apt to end, not only in general injustice, but in practical failure.

The war between Russia and Japan took place during President Roosevelt’s term of office.  After it had been going on over a year, and Japan had won victories by land and sea, the President asked both countries to open negotiations for peace.  He continued to exert strong influence in every quarter to help bring the two enemies to an agreement.  Only since his death has it become generally known how hard he worked to this end.  A peace conference was held at Kittery Navy Yard in Maine, and a treaty was signed which ended the war.

For his action in this, President Roosevelt was the first American to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.  This was a sad reverse to the predictions of those who had been so sure that he was longing to start wars, instead of end them.  Indeed, men who prophesied evil about Mr. Roosevelt, as well as those who tried to catch him in traps, had a most disappointing experience.  The Nobel Prize consisted of a diploma, and an award in money of $40,000.  This he tried to devote to helping the cause of peace between capital and labor in America.  When Congress failed to take the needed action to apply his money for this purpose, it was returned to him.  During the Great War he gave all of it to different relief organizations, like the Red Cross, and other societies for helping the sufferers.