The Portland daily press., 1892-02-09
THOUGHTS OF THE DAY.
Henry George Denounces the Attempt
to Build a Navy.
"The Talk of War with CIlilf,' He Says,
"Tas Observation-Disclosures Vim
ceat Discusses .Univorsity'
Extension.

The d:sgraceful talk about o war with Chill
that hes recently been filing our newspapers
ought to arouse attention to the evil course we
have entered on IN attempting to build up a
great naval armament. The navy on which we
are spending such IN enormous amount OF pub
lie money Is useless and worse. 1t Is anti
American, corruptive and dangerous.
1t is useless because 1t is unneeded. We are
so strong and so situated that there is no posi-
bAity of q war being forced upon US. No natior
In the world would wantonly attack u.s. for there
is no nation that would not have everything tc
lose and nothing to gain by doing SO, While
even II there fs no higher motive to restrain U.s.
there Is no nation in tho world with which the
provoking of war on our part would not mean
certainty Of loss without possibility of gain.
1t Is useless, however, because the ships we
are building would suffice neither for defensive
or offensive war. Modern invention has made
them as ANTICIPATED as the coat arnor OF
the feuGal era. In case of attack from
the sea the modern means of defense con.
siSt in tho power If concentration brought
about by telegraph and railroads, in electricity
and high explosives, torpedoes, submarine
boats, airships and quiclly-placed distractions
and defenses. For aggression abroad power
is really measured by the swift merchant ships
that can be called into service We might build
up such navy as that Of England, yet Eng.
land would still be immeasurably our superior
for offensive purposes in her merchant steam.
in merchant steamers and the capacity OF
building them had we not taxed American shiI
Off the high seas. We could remit all taxation
on ships and on their materials with the loss OF
far less to the revenue than we are now spend
ing on the navy.
1t is anti-American for the reasons that make
all standing armies ininical to our traditions
and institutions. It is anti-American, because
organized on ariStocratic principles, the impass.
able class distinction between noble and peas.
ant being perpetuated in the distinction be-
tween commissioned officers and enlisted men.
These men are for the most part foreigners.
who are only kept in our naval service, after be-
ing inveigled into it, by severe restrictions and
a standing reward for running them down il
they escape.
1t is oorruptive, as interesting large class OF
permanent of1ce-holderS in influencing govern.
ment, as providing means for debauching poll.
tics wherever there is navy-yard or q con.
tract to be given out, and as building up cor
porations whose profits depend on lobbying.
It is dangerous, because it creates an inf1uen-
tial class whose interests opposed to the in.
tereStS of the masses OF the people and who de.
sire war for the sake Of the Importance, the
promotion, the contracts and the pickings that
war will bring to them. 1t is dangerous, be-
cause the possession of a strong navy fosters
among the thoughtless, even those to whom
war could bring nothing but injury, the same
desire to try it that the possession of new pea
shooter arouses in the small boy
We have 10 reason for war, and there is No
more need for our building Of ironclads thar
there is for the members of the house clothing
themselves in armor because Mr. Crisp might
go crazy and might fire blunderbuss from
the speakers chair. But if we go on building
ironclads and sending ships around the world to
make themselves unpleasant to even little ma
tions, VIC are certain sooner or later to get
war on our hands. One such war will provoke
Others.
4 Strong as we are, war to US is the greatest OF
dangers. For, setting aside altogether its cost
in money and blood, war inevitably demoralizes
republican institutions, pcstpcnes reforms
strengthens governments at the expense Of the
people, differentiates classes and places power
lin the hands Of the few. And finally, even when
successful 1t destroys popular liberty.
(! Our greatest advantage over European ma
tons is that our strength and our position ex
empt Us from, the fears that compel them to
stand armed. It ought to be our pride and glory
to lead them in what is good not to ape them il
what is bad. The real dangers that beset us
arc not from without, they are from within, and
these dangers no army and no navy can guard
against. They can only intensity them.
There are reasons which dispose the unjust
ly rich to strong and aristocratically organized
dispose then to strong government. But for
masses ought to set their faces like flint against
them. Standing armies and navies belong to
the policy of Hamilton not to that of Jefferson.
They belong to monarchies and imperialisms,
not to democratic republics. HENRY GEORGE.