The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-03-04
ADVANTAGES OF A NAVY.

In both Great Britain and In the United
States there IL an active movement toward
increase OF the navy. In the former It il
supported heartily by the people. but in
this country public opinion is divided The
cause OF this difference Is very apparent
For nearly 800 years Engllshmen have been
trained TO regard British commercial SUI
premacy as dependent almost absolutely
upon her command OF access 10 her trading
points That Britannia rules the waves"
has been tho object OF her statesmen ard
the inspiring theme OF her poets. Mistress
OF the Seas is the proudest Of the many senti-
iimenial titles BFitons have arrogated TO
themselves and nothing more quickly stirs
the British heart than illusions to the
prowess of her navy. Americans have
been so situated that they have at all times
attached more importance TO home COM
merce than 20 trade with foreign countries:
their policy has been TO foster internal i'm
provements and avoid entanglements IN
foreign affairs. The conditions are alto
gether different. The United States would
thrive with every port closed: England
would soon be starved into submission un-
less she could recruit her stores from
abroad. The United States possesses vast
native resources. great tracts OF unoccupied
land. and a soil 30 varied and fertile that two
or three interior states could supply all tho
necessities OF her people. The greater her
export trade. the more prosperous Will be
one portion OF her people: but while the i'm
porters and exporters would suffer for a
time by cessation OF foreign trade. the
great bulk OF Americans would find reader
and more profitable employment by the
increase OF home manufactures This Is
not the broadest policy for commercial
nation, which should seek the widest mar
ket for It's products. but II IS a codnition
which we could bear for Il long time. Great
Britain Is so placed that she must either
be the first OF nations and lead mankind or
must utterly decay and perish.
The advantage OF possessing a great
navy was recently pointed out BY Admiral
Sir r. yesey Hamilton lie reminded his
British hearers that in lsi2-i4 England was
engaged IN war not only with u great part
The result OF that war was that while
Great Britain was beaten. the United
States suffered far more in loss OF ocean
commerce. In 1917 American exports and
imports. he said. amounted TO about ESQ.,
ooc 600. but by 1914 they had declined to less
than Sc. 90. 900. The exports and imports
Of England I'm the same time increased
frou, sSso.ooo.ooo 20 s4SS.coo.ooo and two
thirds OF Americas mercantile and trading
classes were insolvenL" Nevertheless, at
the close OF the war business improved
wonderfully and our progress has been
enormous ever since.
The United States OF 1914 and 1898 pre-
sents a very different condition. Our pop
ulatlon was in 1879 less than S.ooa.0oo; now
II IL nearly 700c0. 900. We had no manufac-
lures TO speak OF; we had not the vast
wheatfieids; nor the coal. iron. lumber.
wool. cattle we now possess In far greater
quantities than meet our own demands.
We have 10 need OF a navy for Offensive
purposes: but we do need sufficient de-
lenses or coast and at sea for the proiec-
ton OF our ports against an sgsressor.
II probably seems TO many people like a
great waste Of money, which could be de-
voted 20 internal improvements. but our
wealth and Importance impose upon Us
responsibilities and cares from which
smaller nations are fres