Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-21
To Prevent War.

To the Editor Of The ETeaing Star:
The naval historian, J. FeniEaore Cooper. in
the closing paragraph of his history OF The
navy makes statement that Is applicable to
this DAY. He wrote in 1876 In closing he
states that the historian Of the American navy
N he year 1900 Will have task before him
very different TO bis own. Little did he dream
that within twenty years the fay of the Union
would wave over SEQ ships of war. This was
the case in 1876. st that period we were strong
and respected by all nations from tlmo 10
time efforts were made to keep up navy suit
able TO the dignity OF great nation: this was
defeated. Men IL Congress said that there would
be no more war One Senator made the very
remarkable statement. that the moral effect
Of a mighty nation OF 60.OOO, COO in perfect har-
mony would deter any other nation from mo-
testing il. Also that If raft with the Ameri-
can tiag were sent sdrift on the ocean all the
world would respect it This is good time
to test that policy Here we have Chile with
only 3.OOO.OOO inhabitants, and so far from re-
speeding said raft and flag they treat i with the
utmost contempt The only way 10 have this
raft respected would be to have behind II 100
steel-elad battle ships. If Immediately after
the Baltimore insult to our flag we could have
sen; fifteen ships OF the Baltimore class and six
battle ships to The harbor OF Valparaiso ard de-
manded an apology it would have been
given with cOmmendable prOmptness-
This line of action would have been taken by
either England or France If their flag had been
80 grossly iasulted as was the American stan
dsrd by the mob in Chile. In all interview pub
hshed in today's STAR Senators Kyle and PETER
make statements in regard to the controversy
with Chile that are apt to mislead The former
says that it would be national disgrace to so
to war with a nation So much smaller than our
own; in fact, il would be crIminally ludicrous."
In answer 20 this would state that if this were
established as a precedent then any country
smaller than our own would feel at liberty at
any time to kill and MAIN our naval repre-
sentatives our citizens who might happen TO
visit their shores, and II We were to ask for an
apology they could plead the baby acI as
their defense. This view would not be tolerated
by any other country on the face OF the globe.
II dignired Senators duly declare that the wan
ton slaughter of sailors on its men-of-yar Is too
small a matter TO be noticed. much less to 60 to
war for, the sooner this new doctrine is pro-
Claimed the better. Then those who may go
abroad can duly place themselves under the
protection Of the English government which
never has allowed insult to any of its citi-
gems 10 go unpublished.
1 doubt very much if the Chilean government
will offer any sort Of apology that will be ac-
cepiable to the President and his cabinet. The
mass Of the people of that country believe that
they are fully able to hold their own against
the United States. In fact il is a well-known
boast that they think that ore Chilean Is equal
TO any ten Yankees. The only way to convince
them of this error Is the stern logic Of battle.
IL war follows the present controversy we
will spend, no doubt, several hundred million
dollars and sacrifice thousands of brave lives
II one-tenth Of this sum had been spent ten
years ago in building up a proper navy the
present war topic would not have come up.
The late Gen. Grant and Admiral Porter re-
peatedly stated that the only way to prevent
q war was to be so thoroughly prepared for it
that no nation would dare attack US.
January 20. OLD NAVY.