The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-05-22

markablc Admission-Duty of tbc Irnita.,
States In Relation to the New World.
View of the Spaniards.
WASHINGTON, May u Especial. lin
the senate tho other day, during q debate
upon tho Cuban question, Senator Hawley
OF Connecticut made tho remarkable state
mcnt thnt tho United States is not pre-
pared for war with Spain over Cuba. We
aro not prepared for war with first class
or oven second class power, snd Senator
Hawlcy. Inasmuch us Senator Hawley is
recognized military authority, and chair
man of tho military affairs committee OF
the senate, this statement attracted great
deal OF attention and has led to no end of
discussion. Most of our military authorities
do not agree with him. While they arc
willing to admit that we aro not in condi-
ton to cope with the navy of Great Britain,
OF With that of Franco, tho second naval
power of the world, they scout tho idea
that we need DO afraid of Spain Whilo
Spnin has navy nominally equal to our
own, naval officers declare that it is not in
good condition. Many of the ships which
nro carried on the naval lists as first class
lighting machines, and which bear an
ominous appearance in tho comparative
statistics of naval strength, are actually
out of commission and not likely to be in
shape to light for several years.
The Spanish Fleet.
Tho trouble with Spain, say these naval
authorities Of ours who have carefully
studied tho matter, is that she is practical
ly bankrupt. Her two wars aro costing
hor about $4,000, 900 month. She has
not had tho means with which to maintain
her navy In first class fighting TRIM II
war were to break out between the two
countries, our navy, being moro modern
than that of Spain and in much bcttor
condition as to equipment and repair could
easily tako tho offensive. Wo should have
the advantage of moro accurate nforma-
ton MS to the date Of the impending crisis
ana could prepare ourselves accordingly.
Tho result would be that when war actual
~ came our naval ships could be OH their
way to Cuban and Spanish waters We
could carry the war into tho enemy coun-
try and probably could keep the Spanish
fleets so well occupied III defending their
own scnportS that mono of their craft could
get away to threaten New York or Wash
ington or Boston. Even If Spanish vessels
were TO menace New York or othor of our
scaports, our naval mon say the torpedo
system would prevent much damage being
done.
Senator Hawley has been savagcly criti-
senator of tho United States holding the
responsible position of chairman of IL mill.
tary affairs committee in our parliament,
should not give this much aid and com
lor5 ana information TO Il possible enemy
OF the country. AS to the good taste of
the matter Senator Hawlcy is quite able
To defend himself. If his statement serves
10 call attention to the necessity which cy-
lists for preparing this country for war,
perhaps he has done the people Il good
service. 1t is well settled axiom that
there can be no great diplomacy without
big guns. There can lie no vigorous for.
egn policy without IL great navy To back
it up Tho United States is certainly
lacking i'll coast defenscs, and the navy,
compared with the fighting fleets of three or
four OF the European nations, is wocfully
deficient.
Our Rights and Duties.
prominent public man was talking to
me the other day on this very subject. He
said the destiny of the United States WINS
To he tho great arbter of all American
affairs. We have asserted the Monroe doc
trinc, and, if necessary, arc ready to fight
to maintain it, The meaning of the Mon
roe doctrine is simply that this country,
us the ono great, powerful nation of tho
western hemisphere, aims To occupy in it's
relations to the remainder of the continent
precisely tho attitude which the great pow
ers OF Europe hold toward Turkey and
Grcccc ana Armenia and Bulgaria Tho
balance OF power rcposcs in their hands.
They arc responsible for the preservation
of the peace of Europe and for the better
ment of the condition of oppressed peoples.
Tho principle arises first in their right To
protect themselves. and with the assertion