New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-24
IMPORTANCE OF SEA POWER.
SENATOR LODGES SPEECH on THE HA-
WAIIAN CABLE PROJECT.


NATION HAS EVER BEEN REALLY GREAT
THIS COUNTRY DOES NOT FEAR
WAR. But SHOULD BE PRE-
PARED FOR IT
Washington. March Gin the closing hours Of
Congress at the nconvenient hour Of a. M when
the debates are too late be reported for the morn
ing papers and too early FOR the afternoon papers,
Senator Lodge, OF Massachusetts. made notable
little speech on the National influence Of sea power,
which has just appeared in The Record and, by
request is to be reprinted for circulation The SEN
ate was debating the conference report on the Con-
suar ana Diplomatic bill which resulted in striking
out the appropriation for the Hawaiian cable.
Among other things Mr.. Lodge said:
The sea power has been OF the controlling
forces In history. Wthou; the sea power no nation
has been really great Sea power consists. in the
bu; in order to sustain the Navy we must have
suitable posts for naval stations, strohS PAGES
where navy can be protected ana refurnshed.
For that reason he advocated getting possession
of the Hawaiian Islands, and in Illustrating the
lesson 10 I've derived from the policy OF Great Brit
ain Mr.. Lodge pointed out with the aid Of great
map which brought into the Chamber what
that Government had done on the American Allan
tic coast Huge Maltese crosses indicated Great
Britains six powerful naval stations at Cape Bre-
ton, Halifax, Bermuda. jamaica Santa Lucia and
Trinidad When asked how long American war
ships could prevent the British from taking the
Hawaiian Islands if this country had them Mr..
Lodge replied that he feared England 50 little that
he thought IL the flag of the United states we're to
be once hosted over the Sandwich Islands the ma
tlon did exist that would be able to pull il
down Mr.. Lodge said that he did not desire to see
this country enter OH an unlimited career Of acquis
ton Of colonial possessions But s:il, while II held
the citadel OF its greatness here this continent
within the borders Of the United states. The noces-
sary outworks should not be neglected Tht STA
IL. "a
England no one supposed. the naval station was
placed at Bermuda because England did not have
enough such stations. She put 1t there because i
was only little more than 600 miles from New
York. On the subject Of possible var with Great
Britain. Mr.. Lodge said:
| have idea that England desires 10 go TO war
with this country. ] do not think she does but
we may well look facts in the face. This coun-
the trade and commerce OF the world. The Eng
disappearing people have been the great conquer
from her IONS; ana since We parted from hel, her
statesmen have never tailed - recosnize thai IN
speaking her language and Of her race she
was to find her most formidable rivals. she has
always opposed, thwarted and sought 10 inJuie US.
She desires to keep her control Of The great path
ways OF commerce. She desires TO put us IN
position whore cannot, If We Wish, hight, except
at great disadvantage.
/ have sand that ! DO not fear war do not
VEIN we'll aware as we are that though She might BON
bard few Of coast cities. her great territory
of Canada would pass from her never 10 return in
and outlying islands which ought TO belong to W.
does put US in the position where all the advantage
her side ana none on ours. The control OF
these great points in the Highways OF commerce
are the control of the power Ii was the sea
power in history that enabled Rome TO crush Han
nibal perhaps the greatest military genius or al
time; il the power that enabled England TO
bring Napoieons empire 10 rum; II was the sea
power more than anything else thai crushed the re-
belion in this country by bOckading every port Of
the Southern States 1t Is the power that Is es-
sental to the greatness OF every great people.
We are a great people: We control this Continent
we are dominant In this henisphere; We have TOO
great an inheritance 10 be trlfed with or parted
with. II is ours TO guard and 20 extend We DO
not want great rival posted too near our
coasts and there. In the one place where the h1ui
OF England has not yet been reached OUT. TO throw
away those islands il madness for any man who
looks beyond the present moment or who sees IN this
question anything but a mere matter OF population
money.