The Washington weekly post., 1900-05-15
Fridays Proceedings.

IlluuN IlUtCCNluSSs
Senator Lodge created a profound i'm
preston III the Senate Friday by his
declaration that the United States must
be prepared TO defend the Monroe doc
trine at the cost of war.
Mr.. Lodges speech was delivered in the
course of the debate upon the cost or ar
NOR plate furnished the government, ana
speedily became the chief topic OF COM
ment at the Capitol. His thorough knoWl-
edge of international affairs, his position
as chairman of the Committee on the
Philippines, and his standing as a member
Of the Committee on Foreign Relations,
all served TO invest his words with uh-
usual significance and interest. Following,
as it did, the recent utterance or Secre-
tary Root regarding the necessity OF
maintaining the Monroe doctrine In the
face of hostile European nations, Senator
Lodges speech is certain to attract wide
spread attention He made plain the more
or less veiled illusions of Secretary Root
although he did not 60 so far as to say,
as he might have done, that Germany Is
already dickering with Denmark 10 eX-
change the province of Schleswig-H -Hol-
ST Elm for the Danish West Indies. Tnis
exchange would be very acceptable 10
Denmark. but, according to Senator
Lodge. Germany's foothold IN the west IN
dies would be regarded in the Uniled
States as equivalent to declaration OF
war. ..,ororoo
on this important question was as foiloWs:
Nv reason for desiring more ships, and FOR deslr-
Ing more ships quickly, is because MINK the
safety Of the United States rests upon us naval
strength. 1t is not the outcome of our new pos
sessions that | am led TO urge this; far Hom IT,
do not think single one or the ne" possess'OAs
We have adds TO or diminishes the need OF pow
erfuI navy No trouble is likely to come 10 Us
from any OF those sources in my judgment. II
that were all | should keep silent on this subject
The danger 10 the United States lies where II
has alyavs lain in It's coasts, and IN the IN
terests which 1t must always protect IN this heHiS-
| pbere We have the largest coast!ine Oh any na-
ton in the world and one OF the smallest hee's'
| Our Atlantic coast is studded from New orleans
to the extreme boundary OF Maine with cities large
and small The whole of that great Atlantic coast
| must be defended. and @e have no adequate heet'
In the second place. We about to undertake the
construction Of an isthmisn canal. Whether II Is
we'll TO fortify canal whether II is better 70
leave it unfortihed, the military ana naNaL eA-
uers generally agree IL is not necessary Tor me L
! CIscuss 10 ej---0 that canal, 10 defend H. 70
/ hold il open for our commerce and the commerce
! of the world, against an enemys feet, we
| must be the masters of the Caribbean Sea For
that purpose alone We must have far more power
| full feet than We have to-day, because the safety
| Of the canal will rest upon the American fleet
| I hone and believe that We shall have no wars
| with any one but the surest guarantee that We
shall have 10 will lie in the possession OF q
feet which no would wish to attack. II is The
| greatest assurance for the peace Of the country
| Tor the protection Of coasts. and for the main
| tenanee Of the canal that be devised
| / say that / hope and believe that there will b
| no wars with any one. But should be foolish
indeed i: We closed our eyes TO the possibilities o.
| the situation We could never allow those Danisi
| Islands for example to pass into any hands Othel
| than those Of their present pOssessors. except ou
| own. The nation Of Europe which dsres 10 taxi
! possession Of those islands and hold them righ
| there on the road TO the canal, and make Of then
great naval stations and places Of arms, would be
bv that very act, the enemy Of the United states
L would he impossible for TO submit to any sucl
thing as that such an act by any European powe
would mean war
The Monroe doctrine Is the greatest protection o
the United states. To that doctrine VIC ALL withou
distinction TO party. adhere. l am by no mean
convinced that some European power, perhaps On
| OF those whose navy is lust receiving such
rapid increase may want to test that doctrine. an
that We may find ourselves called upon to protec
Brazil or some other South American state fron
invasion. and 10 see to it that 10 EurOpeai
state is established in the continent 10 the south
an not coniuring up imaginary dangers. thin
that they exist and very real l trust they vi!
never fnd actual result il war: but / am sure tha
the way 10 prevent any such test Of the Monroe doc
| trine the way 10 prevent pesceabiy the seizure 0
any part Of tie south American continent or Of h
West Indian Islands BY any European power. is {
| have an American navy which No power IN n
| world snOrd 10 disregard
"If trouble should come. If the Monro
doctrine should be attacked, if our coast
should be In danger" continued Mr
| Lodge, I'VE would find il but cold comfUr
when We We're short Of ships. when on
fleets were oyeTmatched, and our coast
, ! asSailed, 10 say that, at least, We ha
- | curbed an egregioIs monopoly and save
= ourselves from extOrtionate prices
The Danish Island scare" remarke
I | Senator Tilman. has no terror for an
- man who is informed on the subject. "
j know that our navy is superior 10 that
Germany
) 'The Germans have now eighteen battle
: ships" replied Mr.. Lodge. They hay
authorized eighteen more battle-ships. an
= the Emperor has shortened the time :
= that those ships will be completed in ls5'
o. BY that time they will have thirty-si
- | battleships As 10 the Danish Island
= scare. / do not believe myself that an
r nation is going 10 take them; ! think tn
= know too much for that. IL they do no
\ | they can be taught But IL the Senate
: thinks that there is no danger OF an ir
: fringement OF the Monroe doctrine in Bra
: zll or in some other Of those South Amer
| ican republics. he differs very widely frOI
e the conclusion which | have formed froI
Z Il pretty careful study Of the subject"
= Senator Bacon and Senator Daniel al
Z gued FOR the construction OF a govern
r ment aFmor plant. the latter referring [
. battle-ships. in view Of the discovery Z
5 soft-nosed projectiies, as iron eandl
| boxes" Mr.. Daniel said also that III
5 | Monroe doctrine would be defended eve
: II the United States had 10 fight, and
| was well that all nations should undel
? | stand that fact.
e mo nation on this earth." said h