Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-09-01
MUST DEFEND OUR INTERESTS
Senator Davis, One OF the Peace COmmss'
sionsPs, Makes soms significant
Remarks.

New York, Aug. Ex-senator Cush-
man X. Davis, before leaving this city
for his home to prepare for his journey
10 Paris as one Of the peace commits
sioners, uttered these significant
words:
The American people are aglew with patri-
otto ferv0r and the utmost camness is neces-
sary In considering our future course Events
have made US one OF the great powers OF tho
earth Whatever we may have desired our
selves heretofore destiny has forced upon us
responsibilities that we must recognize and &C.
cept We have become potent factor In the
worlds progress A greater actual naval and
military power we ere already We are not
strong enough yet. but not an hour must be
lost In equipping ourselves TO cope
with any EN- rgency that may confront
us Our volunteer army Is as good. II not
Better thun any force Of its kind in this world.
but we cannot rest secure In that thought We
must have large regular army ready ut call In
the future We must have ~ good navy as
any nation on elrth We have IN excellent
beginning Ship for ship we need fear nobody.
But we must build ships with true American
energy Nothing must deter US We know
that we have the men to put behind the guns
Love OF gunnery Is IN American characteris-
tic When we were boys oil Of us knew how to
handle firearms A gun Is the earliest thought
Of the American youth Men are only grown
up boys That explains our success at Manila
and Santiago
China Is the coveted part Of the earth's sur
face to-day, but who could have predicted six
months ago that Russia, Germany or Japan
would not covet i0othold on the North
American continent: Now we see the trend OF
events In the east Providence has stepped In
to point the future course forus We must po-
lice the Pacific ocean Its coast has been our
vulnerable point nm on record as favoring
the retention OF territory that has been ac-
Quired by the splendid victories OF our arms
The United States has ceased to be the China
Of the western continent We ore alive thank
God and must not be insulted by any power
In this world great or small And isn't
the change one that ought to mike every
patriot glad' Wars are inevitable--or
oil history Is false. Steam power
has broadened their arena No nation Is safe.
most Of Its value TO the victorious nation by
the intervention Of o stronger power Are we
to be weak like Japan Gun we contemplate
for an instant the interference Of INV power
that shall abridge the majesty and glory laid at
our feet by the incompatible Dewevs l say
never Therefore. you may quote me just rs
strongly as you can as saying; More bat
tlcships, md after that more cruisers and
battleships again The men will step for
ward ~ fast az we can build the ships Sup
pose that Dewey had been defeated OF Manila
What might have been the fate Of the Hawai-
ian islands and our Pacific coast from Behrine
strait to San Diego' The Asiatic situation Is
one that deeply concerns US II we are out.
witted there we must at once prepare for de-
tense Of our western coast line from the same
aggregatIons that have humbled the Oldest en-
pire on earth In the eyes Of modern civilixa-
tim