The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1898-09-03
MUST DEFEND OUR INTERESTS
Senator Davis, One OF the Peace COmmis-
sionsrs. Make. Some significant
Remarks.

New York, Aug. 30.-Senator Cash-
man K. Davis, before leaving this city
for his home TO prepare for his journey
to Paris as one of the peace commits
sioners, uttered these significant
words:
The American people are aglow with patri-
otic feryor and the utmost calmness Is noces-
sary In considering our future course Events
have made US one Of the great powers Of the
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 are already. We are not
strong enough yet, but not an hour must be
lost in squipping ourselves TO cope
with any emergency that may confront
US Our volunteer army Is ~ good, II not
better, than any force Of Its kind In this world.
but we cannot rest secure In thAt thought We
must have q large regular army ready a. call In
the future We must havo as good navy a.
spy nation. on earth We have an excellent
beginning Shlpf 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 gunA
Love Of gunnery Is an American characteris-
handle iirearmA gun Is the earliest thought
OF the American youth Men are only grewn
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 oovet q foothold on the North
American continent Now we see the tread Of
events in the east Providence has stepped In
to point the future course for US We must po-
lice the Pacific ocean. Its coast has been our
vulnerable point l am on record rs favorilg
the retention OF territory that has been az
quired by the splendid victories of our armS
The United States has ceased TO be the China
OF the western continent We are alive, thank
God. and mast not be insulted by any power
In this world, great or small And Isn't
the change one that ought to make every
patriot gladi Wars are inevitAble-or
all history Is false. Steam power
has broadened their arena No nation is safe
Japan's triumph over China was robbed Of
most OF It's value TO the victorious nation by
the Intervention Of . stronger power Are we
10 be weak like Japany Can we contemplate
for an instant the interference OF any power
that shall abridgs the majesty and glory laid At
our feet by the Incompatible Dewey I say
never Therefore, you may quote me Just as
strongly as you can "a saying: More bat
tloships. and after that mure cruisers and
battleshlps again The men will step for
ward as fast as 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 Behring
strait TO San DiegoS The Asiatio 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
katr. IL