The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-02
Formal Opening and Ad-
dress by Mr.. Roosevelt.
His Topic Was the Maxim of
General Washington.
To Be Prepared for War is the Best
Means TO Promote Peace.

The Naval War College at Newport was
formally opened this morning with an
address by Hon. Theodore Roosevelt,
assistant secretary of the navy. The
address was delivered in the lecture room
of the college, which was filled with the
members Of the class and guests. Among
the latter were Commodore Wallace and
officers Of the Naval station, Col. Penning-
ton and officers of Fort Adams Com
mander McGowan and officers of the naval
training station, Commander Converse
and officers of the Torpedo station, Rear
Admiral s. b. Luce, Major 4. X. Gibbs,
Commander w. Mccarthy Little. Col.
Reginald Norman, Col +. Nj. Neill and
Lieutenant II. l.. Willoughby, Comman.
der G. Il. Goodrich, president OF the War
College, presided and introduced Mr..
Roosevelt.
Mr.. Rooseveit's Address.
Mr.. Roosevelt delivered most interest
ing and impressive address entitled,
"Washington's Forgotten Maxim, namely,
To be prepared for war Is the most effec-
tual means to promote peace Ho said
In part II We forget that in the last
resort we can only secure peace by being
ready and willing to fight for 1t, we may
some day have bitter cause TO realize that
a rich nation which Is slothful, timid. or
unwieldy Is an easy prey for any people
which still retains the soldicrly virtues.
It Ia not only true that peace may be so
iRnoble and degrading as TO be worse
than any war; IL Is also true that IL may
be fraught with more bloodshed than
most wars. The peace of Europe has
heen preserved, while the Turk has been
allowed to butcher the Armenians with
hideous and unmentionaple barbarity and
has actually been helped to keep Crete in
slavery.
The man who opposed the war of 1912
and preferred TO have the nation humil-
lated by unresented insult from foreign
power rather than sec her suffer tho
losses OF an honorable conflict WAS con-
sidered contemplate. But IL was not
worse than that Of the men who brought
on the war and yet deliberately refused to
make the preparations necessary to carry
Il to successful conclusion.
Takes Time 10 Build Ships and Guns.
But ships, guns and men were
much more easily provided in time of
en- srgency at the beginning of this CEN
tury that at the end. 1t takes months to
build guns and ships now, where IL took
days or at the most weeks then. and IL
takes far longer now TO train men TO the
management OF tire vast and complicated
engines with whvl war Is waged There
FORE preparation Is much more difficult,
and requires much longer time; and
yet wars are 50 much quicker, they last
80 comparatively short period and can
be begun so instantaneously that there is
much less time than there was formerly
in which to make preparations.
To Uphold Monroe Doctrine.
The men who command our ships must
have rs perfect weapons ready To their
hands as can be found In the civilized
world and they must no trained TO the
highest point In using them. believe
with all my heart In the Monroe doctrine,
and ! believe also that the great mass of
American people are loyal to it; but IL is
worse than idle TO announce our adherence
to this doctrine and yet To decline to take
measures to show that ours Is not mere
lip loyalty. liz we possess "A formidable
navy, small IL tho chance indeed that we
shall ever be dragged into a war to up
hold the Monroe doctrine. IL we do not
possess such navy, war may bc forced
upon US at any time. We ask for great
navy, partly because we think that the
possession NJ such navy is the surest
guarantee OF peace and partly because we
feel that no national life is worth having
II the nation Is not willing whcn tho
need shall arise. 10 take everything on
the supreme arbitrameut of war AMI To
pour out It's blood, It's treasures ana tcars
Hike water rather th-lI3-subBit 20 tho lA-s
of honor and renown. We ask for great
navy, fit for tho nations needs, not
primarily TO fight, but 10 avoid fighting.
Peace, like freedom, is not gift hat
tarries long In the hands of CowP' ., ur
OF those too short sighted tn des, ,.gc il.
and we ask 60 be given the neans to en-.
suro that honorable peace which Is alonu
worth having.