Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1900-05-25
Massachusetts Senator Makes an
lnvincible Argument.
DECLARES We ARE MECLARED
Says Germany Has Covetous Eyes
on the Western Hemisphere
and We Should BE Alert.

|
possibility Of clash with Germany
over the Monroe doctrine was force.
fully laid before the senate and the
country Friday by Senator Lodge of
Massachusetts,, in the course OF Wig
orous speech against the construction
OF an armor plate plant by the govern.
ment.
The particular significance of this
declar alton that we must look To such
a contingency over either the Danish
West Indies or Germany's desire TO
get more power in South America lies
the fact that Senator Lodge 10 usually
very reticent on oil matters pertaining
to forei en- relations and further that
he is generally recognized as repre-.
senting the views Of tho president and
state department on the matter.
When. therefore, no declared, that
there were such possibilities to DO
considered his declarations were given
greater weight than such talk Coming
from almost any other senator.
When consideration OF the naval
bill was resumed the pending amend.
ment was that offered by Senator Till.
man for a straight price OF $500 per
ton for armor and n government armor
factory not costing over 81, 10000
Mr.. Lodge, Of Massachusetts,, speak.
ing in opposition to tho amend.
ment, said that for the past three
years the senators from South Caro-.
lima and New Hampshire-Mr. Till
man aud Mr.. Chandler--had been en-.
deavoring to get armor at low price.
The net result Of their work had been
TO put stop to the construction of q
navy. He had no prejudice against a
government armor plant, but to stop
the building OF all ships until the ar
nor plant could be erected. would, he
thought, be fiat mistake.
my reason for desiring moro
ships" said he, "aud desiring them
quickly, Is my belief that the safety OF
the United States depends upon the
strength Of our navy. We do not
need the navy for the protection of
our insular possessions. The danger
lies in our own great coast line and
in the defense OF the Monroe doctrine
in the western continent. For tho
defense Of this great coast line and
the cities studding IL we have no ade.
qnate fleet. We are about TO enter
upon tho construction OF an isthmian
canal, to defend, control and operate
which we must 10 the naval master of
tho Caribbean sen. We must have q
'nr more powerful feet than we have
today. The safety Of the canal do.
ponds upon our feet.
"A great feet is the greatest insu.
lance Of peace. We should not close
'ur eyes to the possibilities Of the sit.
iation. We could never allow the
Danish islands to pass into any other
iand than ours. The European nation
which should undertake TO take pos
ession Of those islands right on the
Dad to the canal and 10 make Of them
Ireat naval stations would by that
'ery act become an enemy OF ours.
We could submit to no such thing as
hat. The Monroe doctrine Is q great
protection to the United States. Men
u oil parties--Democrats, Republicans
nd Populists--without distinction,
dhere TO that.
II am by no means sure that some
European nations, perhaps one whose
avy is now receiving such O rapid in
rease, may not test the Monroe doc
rine. We may DO called upon 10 pro-
set that doctrine In Brazil or some
Their country. Already too much time
rs been lost. II the Monroe doctrine
hould be endangered or IL our coast
lould be menaced, We would be- prs.
Ared and II would be q weak excuse
lat We had been engaged in throttl.
u On egregious monopoly"
In colloquy with Mr.. Lodge, Mr..
illman said II was we'll known that
10 navy OF the United States was su.
'rior to that Of Germany.
Mr.. Lodge pointed TO the great in
ease that now was being made In
10 German navy.
III the senator thinks" said Mr..
odge, there is no danger TO be an
ehended, / fear he moderated the
,portance OF the subjects subject
which | have given much thought
ID consideration"
Mr.. Ellis, OF West Virginia, argued
ainst plants, as did Mr.. Allison, who
oke on the score Of economy. The
ter said it would be four years be-
70 q government armor plate could
put on ship.
Mr.. Bacon, Of Georgia, advocated
construction Of government fac
y because he believed II would be q