The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1898-08-11
ABOUT THE POWERS.
WHAT WE DO NOT NEED.
Present-Day THOUGHTS.
BY G. GRosvENoR DAVE.
Copyrighted by Dave & Tabor.)

- SOAAN~s>S S~~O
present earnest demands for perman-
ent and decided increase OF both army
and navy. it is necessary to consider
the probability of foreign interference
in relation to the new islands and arch
ipelagos that are to be ours. AS
present hostilities will not last long, it
is we'll for US to fortify our minds in
advance regardi ng the matter, since
every possible and impossible and ret
rogressive argument will be brought
forth in order to impel us into enormous
expenditures for arms and ships and
men.
In the first place we can safely dis
miss from any discussion all fears of at
tack by any one of the minor powers OF
the world. In manner tree from boast
ing we can properly say that no such
power is courtlng annihllation, nor are
the conditions that have brought US
into conflict with a seventh rate power
ever likely to be repeated. Therefore
the only remaining powers that are
worthy of consideration in Europe are
England, France, Germany, and Russia,
and in Asia Japan, and that not tor
twenty-five years at least. Those then
that demand from our puissant nation
a return to the weakness OF force must
be relentlessly narrowed down to the
real limits of the danger-viz, that
none but great powers Will dare any
tilching from us and that the fear of
flching is the only excuse for the pro-
posed increase for our original territory
remains as ocean -bulwarked as ever.
~
If we assume now the accuracy OF
last weeks thought as to the possibility
of administering by justice instead OF
by force, it shall be further shown that
the great powers from a variety OF
causes are little likely to meddle with
us. Thus will it be possible for US,
with safety, after present hostiIitles
have ceased to return to our skeleton
army, and simply sustain our navy in
its former condition OF extraordinary
efficiency. Add to this considerable
reformation of militia methods so that
in future the time of need will not be
such time of confusion ;also forma-
ton for local purposes OF a few regi-
ments of native constabulary (; and we
shall have demonstrated to the world
Just what is the true greatness OF a
great nation whose ideals are moral in
stead of physical and whose wars are
on moral issues, if any.
rxs
AS toRussia This most populous OF ma
tions has the greatest debt GAS of the
total national wealthy and least wealth
per capita, nd the most Ignorant pop
latlon OF all the great nations OF the
earth. These are a few superlatives
that are quite unenviable, and not ex-
actly suited for producing a good, fight
ing army. Furthermore the father of
the present Gar (who initiates him)
was far-sighted enough to see that his
duty to his tremendous territory from
Atlantic to Pacific eastward, was to de-
velop it internally and stay out OF inter-
national squabbles unless they affected
his main design. And he needs to do
this, for while his population is 30 mil
lion more than ours, his iron and steel
productions are Ii times less than ours,
his coal fields are only $1,000 square
miles against our $4,000. Further
he has out one etrans-continental railroad
and that incomplete as to main line
and largely lacking as to feeders.
As to Germany: At the very outset,
taking this nations own fighting etfi-
cheney, which, with first and second re-
serves, amounts to 9 per cent OF the
whole population, or 100000 in all
there is no reason to suppose that our
own nation would fail to produce SIM
liar percentage if need be, or 100000
IN all Germany too would be 5000 miles
from a base in attacking us here and
many more thousands from good base
if attacking our interests in the Pacific.
Hot-headed though her Emperor
NAV be and anxious to whet the sword
of real living, divlne-right war-lord,
modicum of good sense will restrain
him from attempting any save tariff
reprisals against nation that excels
him in all that makes for an enduring
fight though behind him In instant
aneous readiness.
| r**
As to France Her debt per capits
;s within one tenth of one per CEN
Of that of Russia; her total agrl
cultural productions, are one third les
than ours, her coal fields are trltiing
vx1ho,, vo,1 ca1l for DeWitt's Witch