The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-01-14
NEED FOR A STRONG NAVY.

Assistant Secretary Roosevelt Of the
Navy Department writes in ''Gunton's
Magazine" of the need of strong navy
by the United States. In the course of
his argument he says:
One Of the penalties OF desiring to
speak ones mind is that the man so
speaking it must be ready to back up
his words by acts, unless he is willing
to find himself in a peculiarly humil-
Eating position. This applies just as
much to a nation as to an individual
Therefore if a nation desires any
weight in foreign policy of any kind
that is, even if it desires only a guar
antee that no foreign nation will adopt
towards it a hostile policy-then it must
possess the means to make it's words
good by deeds. In the case Of a nation
whose interests in foreign affairs are
concerned primarily with Powers
touching it by land, this means that
it must be ready to face invasion by
land, or, in case of necessity, itself to
invade by land. If, as in the case Of
the United States. there Is no great
military empire abutting on the coun-
try in question, then it must look pri-
carrying out any policy on which it has
resolved. The United States has on
one side Mexico, on the other Canada
Canada, it is true, is part of one Of
the greatest empires in the world; but
the British Empire, though it has ever
been fertile in able Generals and gallant
soldiers. nevertheless owes its high
standing primarily to its navy; and in
rf h Ia
between England and the United States
the British forces in Canada, and the
American navy on the ocean, would be
almost equally at a disadvantage Aside
from Great Britain, however, practical
ly every other nation which could by
any possibility have trouble with US
would have to meet us at sea- This
of course means that If the United
States is to have any foreign policy
whatsoever it must possess a thorough
" efficient navy.
There is no ga1nsaying this. It means
simply that a law without executive
power behind It is Of no value; a policy
without ability to enforce it is a farce.
NO one wishes this Government to
plunge so largely into expenditure as
TO cripple the strength OF the nations
Etrong-box, nor does any one believe
that there is great need for a powerful
navy TO preserve the integrity Of the
Union at home.
But nations are more and more COM
fng into touch. The advance Of the
century along all lines of trade COM
rlunication and transportation bring
abe Powers Of the globe closer together
and creates friction. Such friction is
calculated to produce disagreements,
and on the part of some to stimulate
greed and conquest, likewise to provoke
antermeddling.
So, too. this closeness OF the nations
OF the world 10 each other augments
the obligations Of each to protect each
ats own citizens or subjects abroad, and
to maintain their rights In trade. travel
and exchange of commodities.
The Power that can make the effort
10 afford this protection by use of
words only IS at fearful disadvantage.
The Power that has the physical ability
10 command respect for its DEGREES, re-
ceives it from all sides. We are not
as yet able to command that respect.
Beaten in diplomacy, as a rule, we have
only our homely common sense and
high regard for human rights as weap-
ons Of defense. But these, however
eloquentIy and dehantly voiced, are
valueless unless we can back them up
with a threat of force, as the cases
demand when they arise.