Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-07
INCREASE OF THE NAVY.
It II Dema nded by Public Opinion to Pro-
tect American Intere4fa.

| It II Dema nded by Public Opinion to Pro
tect American Interests.
Secretary Tracy, in his annual report, urge,
the further increase Of the navy in the follow
ing language:
The course Of events during the past year haI
shown anew the necessity of continuing the
Development of the navy. The demands upor
| it have boon constant and they are constantly
growing. The rapid extension OF commercial
relations has doubled the importance Of oul
interests especially in the Pacific.
If that most important agency in the com.
mercial development of the United States. the
Nicaragua canal, were completed the strategic
situation would be largely modified. At the
present time the two seaboards are SO remote
that each requires its separate system of naval
defense. Each has its vulnerable points and
each has neighbors that are we'll prepared for
offensive movements. There is a circle Of in
sular fortresses facing our Atlantic seaboard,
the sole object of whose existence is to main
tain naval outposts at our doors. There are
states in the Pacific, and not large states either
whose fleets are more powerful than any
force that We could readily bring to meet them.
To protect either seaboard even when our
present authorized fleet is completed, will in
volve stripping the other at critical moment.
EFFICIENT NAVAL PROTECTION DESIRED.
believe that public opinion in the United
States desires to see this country provided with
an efficient naval protection. The press. which
represents the best intelligence Of the country.
speaks on the subject with clearness and en-
phasis 1t believes, and the country believes
with 1t, that this protection is an obligation
upon the national government. 1t does not
believe that cities like San Francisco, Seattle
and Tacoma should be open to the attacks of a
third-r"te power, whose chips, by a sudden
movement may enforce contributions that
wonld pay in advance the expense of a war. II
any one believes that such rapidity Of move
ment Is impossible let him recall the circum-
stances under which the Esmeralda appeared
IN April last, without warning, close to the Cal
lfornlan coast, sending on the Itata to San
Diego: As little does public opinion believe
that the commercial seaports OF the gulf and
the Atlantic should be unprotected from at
JACK by any nation whose fortified harbors and
fully equipped naval dockyards are within
1orty-elght hours Steaming.
If WAR SHOULD COME
But 1t is repeatedly said that the United
States should avoid war. This is q proposition
to which every right-minded citizen must as
sent. No principal is more firmly established
In our national policy. and the federal officer
who would involve this country in a causcless
war would be traitor to his trust But war
does not require the agreement of both parties;
1t may come upon us without our consent and
even against our will. II a hostile feet should
attack San Francisco tomorrow war would exist
as fact, although it had not been declared by
Legislative enactment
Even il 1t were impossible to involve this
country in war without Its consent there are
situations In which that consent would be given
ny unanimous popular vote. There are out
RACES which cannot go unredressed; there are
injuries to which no nation can afford to sub
init. Against such injuries the surest pre-
ventive is strong national defense.