The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-26
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Wsu. TAeoaore Roosevelt.

msp. Thsoaore nsoseveit.
Cant. Mahan's new volume, "The Interest Of
America in Sea Power, Present and Future" is
o noble book. and one of peculiar timeliness at
the present moment. Abstract principles have
their especial value when wo are able to apply
them at once and definitely in concrete cases.
The other day Senator Cushman X. Davis, In
the course Of his noteworthy lectures on inter
national law before tho University of Mime
sata. pointed out how n nero reading OF the
daily papers would show to any one In this
country the Importance OF q thorough under
standing, both of the principles OF international
law and Of what could. and what could not, DO
asked Of our representatives at Washington In
carrying out q sound foreign policy; and tho
lessons Senator Davis laid down in reference to
such questions as the Monroe doctrine. the pro-
posed treaty OF arbitration with England, and our
proper attitude toward Hawaii and Cuba gained
no little OF their value because he was able, in
almost every case. to show that what he said
might have q bearing on questions OF immo-
date and vital interest. He made this showing
simply by quoting what appeared In the morn
ing papers from day to day; for instance, what
Prince Bismarck was credited with saying In
reference to the Monroe doctrine, what 1t was
rumored Spain expected us to do in reference to
certain American citizens who wero living In
Cuba. or what certain missionaries had do
mandcd as to our interfering actively in Ar
mcnia.
Just in tho same way the general principles
which Capt. Mahan lays down as TO what our
course should be to guard our interests in the
Atlantic and Pacific oceans, in North and
South America, have q peculiar value.
In view not only Of tho questions Of
intornational policy which we have to solve, but
Of tho general attitude, just ut present, of the
rreat powers Of the world toward foreign affairs
outside of Europe. when tho nations Of Cont.
mental Europe have begun to divide China, Ms
they have already divided Africa. and to seize
tho islands of the seas as military outposts;
when their leading public men discuss the ad-
visibility of uniting in q tariff war against
America, and when the newspaper organs OF
certain Of their Governments protest, almost In
the language Of menace. against acquiescencc In
the Monroe doctrine, then It Ia certainly time for
America TO realize that in the future, like other
nntionA, she will have to solve problems that
arc presented from without, no less than those
presented from within. her own borders. Capt.
Mnhan's essays were written, for the most part,
before the United States had to face the two or
three questions Of foreign policy now pressing
for immediate solution; and 1t is no small trib-
ute to his far.sightedness, to tho singularly
utatesmanlike grasp Of Americas foreign poli.
cy which this sea officer has always shown, that
he should 90 unerringly have set forth. long in
advance, not merely the general needs Of
America, but even the special circumstance
which would mako these needs evident.
Thus, seven years ago, long before President
Harrison submitted to the Senate that treaty of
annexation with Hawaii which President Cleve-
land 90 unfortunately withdrew, and which
President Mckinley. prompt to see what the
honor and the interest Of the country demanded,
has nee more renewed; long before President
---A l. IL 800
thereby almost, but not quite, atoned for tho
blow he had struck the national interest about
Hawaii; long before the latest efforts to secure
this country's interests In the West Indies by
the purchase OF the Danish islands, or other
wise; when tho upbuilding Of the navy had only
been begun, and no proper scheme Of coast for
tihcations had been thought out, Capt. Mahan
wrote as follows OF Americas needs from Q mill
tary standpoint:
Three things are needfuli Birst. protection Of tho
chief harbors. by fortincations and coast-defence
ships, which gives defensive strength. provides secur.
ity to the community within. and supplies the bases
necessary to all military operations. Secondly. naval
force, the arm of offensive power. which alore ena.
bles o country TO extend its influence outward.
Thirdly, IL should be an invtolable resolution OF our
national policy that no foreign State should hence.
forth acquire o coaling position within three thousand
miles OF San Francisoo-a distance which includes the
HAWAIIAN anu SaiupuHOb biAhub Ahu ~ SSSes VA
Central America. For fuel Is the life of modern naval
war: it Is the food OF the ship; without It the modern
monsters OF the deep die OF hamilton. Around II,
therefore. cluster some OF the most important con
alterations of naval strategy. In tho Caribbean and
in the Atlantic We are confronted with many o for
eign coal depot. bidding us stand to our arms, oven Al
Carthage bade Rome; but let us not acquiesce in an
addition 70 our dangers. . further diversion of oul
strength. by being forestallec in tho North Pacific.
The needs of this country. in order to maintain
its proper position in tho face of the nations OF
the Old w~orld-the armed powers not only Of
Europe but even of the new Asia of to-day-wert
never set forth more clearly; and they can with
advantage be pondered by those men who
whether from shortsightedness or timidity, fai
TO grasp the fact that the refusal to look o dan
ger in the face does not do away with the dan
ger, but merely prevents our making ready tc
meet 1t.
In the chapters of this book Capt. Mahar
deals with ~incisive clearness with most OF tn,
problems that arise when the question of oui
foreign policy is seriously treated. OF course
this question OF our foreign policy Is indissolu
bly, bound up with another. that Of our nava
power; for with all foreign nations. except Mex
leo and the British Empire. we can only deal b.
sea; and II our assertion Of the Monroe doctrine
10 to be moro than an idle threat-a threat, thu
utterance OF which would humiliate US II VI
were not ready to back 1t up by more thai
words-then we must be ready to make it goot
In the only way in which it can be made good
that 10 by the aid OF a formidable navy.
Naturally, therefore. tho thread Of Capt
Mahan's argument is throughout made up o
two strands which are really one: our nava
policy and our foreign policy. The only excep
tion to this is the chapter in which he treats
with equal good temper and good sense, of tn
possibilities of an AnRlo-American reunion
chapter which can be commended to the excel
lent people who allow their somewhat diffus
international benevolence to run away witt
their Judgment; Just as the advocates of Presi
dent Cleveland's treaty Of arbitration wit
Great Britain. in It's unamended mot necessaril,
In It's amended) form, could with profit stud,
Senator Davis's remarks on the subject In hi
lectures on international law. to which I hav
above alluded.
OF the remaining chapters in Capt. Mahan'
book, that dealing with tho strategic feature
Of the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf Of Mexico 1
somewhat technical in its nature. Eevertht