The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-08-30
America One of The Great Powers
of the Earth.
Must Have a Larger Army and Navy In
The Future.
Destiny Has Forced Upon the
United States responsibilities
Which Must BE Recognized, and
Accepted-Senator Davis Of
Minnesota Talks Of Our Future
Policy.

NEW YORK, Aug. 29.-The World
says:
The American people are aglow
with patriotic fervor and the utmost
calmness is necessary in considering
our future course said United States
Senator Cushman K. Davis before leav-
ing the city for his home to prepare for
his journey to Paris as one of the five
Commissioners to arrange the final
terms of peace between the United
States and Spain.
Events have made us one of the
great Powers Of the EARTH" he contin-
ued. Whatever we may have desired
ourselves heretofore, destiny has forced
upon us responsibilities that we must
recognize and accept We have become
potent factor in the worlds progress.
A great actual military and naval
Power We are already. We are not
strong enough yet, but not an hour
must be lost in equipping ourselves to
cope with any emergency that may con-
front us. Our volunteer army is as
good, if not better, than any force of
the kind in the world, but we cannot
rest secure in that thought. We must
have a larger regular army ready at
call in the future. We must have as
good a navy as any nation on earth.
We have an excellent beginning. Ship
for ship, we need fear nobody. But we
must biuld ships with true American
energy Nothing must deter us. We
know that we have the men to put be-
mind the guns. Love of gunnery is an
American characteristic. When we
We're boys all of us knew how to handle
firearms. gun is the earliest thought
of the American youth. Men are only
grown-up boys. That explains our
success at Manila and Santiago.
How are we likely to be menaced
in the future?" was asked.
Actually We are not whit more ex-
posed to attack as a colonial Power
than We have been every hour since the
active advent of steam sea power. The
glorious victories of our navy have
brought us new responsibilities, but the
Philippines or the Sandwich Islands are
not more isolated than are parts of our
Pacific Coast. Hereafter our power
must be felt on the Pacific Ocean. The
mere addition OF a few hundred square
miles Of territory by capture or treaty
does not increase our danger.
China is the coveted part of the
earths surface to-day, but who could
have predicted six months ago that
Russia, Germany or Japan would not
have coveted a foothold on the North
American continent. Now we see the
trend Of events in the East. Providence
has stepped in to point the future
course for us.
I'VE must police the Pacific Ocean. It's
coast has been Jour vulnerable point.
You understand l am on record as
favoring the extension of the territory
which has been acquired by the SPLEEN
did victories of our arms. l am an
American citizen, speaking as such, and
my remarks have nothing to do with
official duties that I shall undertake on
October 1st as a Commissioner to the
Congress of Paris.
What that body will do or will not
do, l would not predict if l could am
talking of the situation as it exists to-
day, and as every American citizen can
see it. The interests of the United
States must be Zealously guarded from
this hour onward. We have been re-
miss and Indifferent in the past. Think
of the VirginiuS massacre; that was
the hour in which We should have
taught Spain her lesson. Long years Of
suffering and bloodshed would have
been aVolued II Is ldle 10 Soy mat
the Virginius was noc "a American
ship Many of the men aboard her
were American citizens. and the ship
was caught on the high seas. The men
were shot in cold blood and we stood
It. We endured such an outrage with
General Grant, a brave and true maa.
at the head of affairs. But it was not
cowardice on the part of the American
people but it was lethargy and indt-
ference that was quite as debasing in
the sight of the world. That was what
justified all subsequent Spanish bluff
and bravado.
But we have risen TO a new plane
to the level that we were really intend
ed TO hold all along. Nothing but the