Show Admiral Dewey Is reported as favorIng favor-ing the purchase of the Danish West Indies so that we can build great fortresses for-tresses and make extensive naval depots de-pots of supplies and repairs there No doubt that Is a use no could put the Islands to if we buy them but the controlling con-trolling reason for their purchase by us is that they are for sale and we dont want any other power Intrenched there7 But we cannot very well say to Denmark that we wont buy the Islands ourselves nor allow any one else to buy them Tho Monroe doctrine must be fairly construed as well as made Imperative Imper-ative If we want It to prevail we must do our part in a straightforward way When islands are for sale we should either buy or hold our peace It is not a case where we can exercise any right of eminent domain |