The San Francisco call., 1897-06-04
A GUARANTEE OF PEACE,

The address OF Theodore Roosevelt, As
sistant Secretary of the Navy, at the OPEN
ing of the Naval War College at Newport
on " Wednesday was designed for the coun-
try At large rather than for the compare
lively small assembly that heard II. 1t
was clear declaration of the policy the
new official heads of the Naval Depart
m ent Will follow, accompanied by an ar
gument to the people setting forth the
reasons why that policy should receive
from Congress the support needed TO
carry it out.
The theme Of the discourse is embodied
in the saying OF Washington, "To be rre-
pared for war is the most effectual means
TO promote peace" This phrase, often
quoted. is deserving, as the speaker SAID.
of something more than Clip loyalty" l.
is q profound maxim of statecraft, and it
behooves Us to put our practice into &C
cOrdance with SIS wisdom instead of rely
ing, as we do now, upon d plomacy or the
absence OF antagoDisms to maintain peace.
There is no danger that a thorough
preparation for war would lead US to un-
dertake aggressions against our neighbors,
but there is danger that a lack OF prepa-
tion on our part ay lead some nation to
attack US. As Mr.. Roosevelt said:
Preparation for war is the surest guarantee
for peace Arbitration is an excellent thing,
but ultimately those who wish TO see this
country at peace with foreign nations will be
wise If they place reliance upon a firs,-class
feet OF frst-class battle-ships rather than on
any arbitration treaty hich the wit of man
can devise. Nelson said that the British fleet
was the best negouator in Europe, and there
was much truth in the saying. Moreover,
while we are sincere and earnest in our ad-
vocacy Of peace, we must not forget that an
ignobIe peace is worse Than any war. A really
great people, proud aid highs pirited, would
face ali the disasters of war rather than pur-
chase that base prosperity which is bought at
the price OF national honor.
There is no danger of the invasion of
our country. We are exposed only 10 at
tacks by sea. 1t is therefore for naval
wars we must be prepared. We cannot
afford TO wait until war comes before we
Degin to provide for it, for it will then be
too late. No battle-ship can be built in
side of two years, cruisers would take al
most as long and even torped o. boats could
not be put into iirst-class form under
ninety days. The enemy would not wait
for as to make reparations, and long be-
fore we could have constructed the need ed
navy he would have inflicted upon us
heavy disasters.
There Is nothing OF lingo" tone in
this speech. 1t is only an elaboration OF
the words of Washington. Moreover, it is
a most timely address 10 the American
people. We are giving these days too
easy a credence to the soft words OF senti-
mentalists who desire peace because it
spares the call for courage and sacrifice.
AMI of the lovers of wealth whose CONNIE
cial instincts prompt them to peace on
any terms rather than TO venture upon
war that would interfere with trade and
business. We must recognize the truth
that we are living in a world where evil
exists and where men must be always pre-
pared to meet it and conquer it. America
desires peace, but she cannot afford to ac-
cept it unless accompanied by justice and
| honor.