The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-03-23

stations and we have none such along
these routes. For centuries that passage
to the east has been the prize for which
people have fought. and its possession has
made cities and nations great When Eng
land took il her br-seeing statesmen fas-
, tened il TO her by line Of fortified places
covering every strategic and important
point Until. or unless. some great rival
10 England's naval over wrests the con-
troll OF these places from her, these two
routes 70 the East are as much England S
as Is the route from London TO Edinburgh.
To be sure England and America are the
best Of friends, but exigencies OF war arise
which would make il necessary TO shut
friend and foe alike out Of this so-called
neutral canal.
1t Is called neutral by international
law. but international law in war time can
st,ll be epitomized as the good old way.
the simple plan. that he may take who has
the power and he may keep who can
Friendship among nations implies equality.
and We viii remain better friends If ceith-
er is at a disadvantage with the other
Now mat we have gotten into the broad
world with our trade and our possessions.
we certainly cannot allow these routes for
our trade and cur war vessels. and be
tween certain points in our possessions.
he entirely in the hands Of others
As TO the isthmian route. il does not
concern us 10 discuss the merits Of Nicara-
qua or Panama That is a subject for dip
lomatists and engineers. Either route is
near the United States and equally domi-
mated by our island possessions. All
routes TO the isthmus pass Cuba or Porto
Rico. and the Sandwich Islands are the
only and natural Coallng place TO the west
ward in the Pacific Ocean. Jamaica is
owned by England. but Il Is 50 thoroughly
overshadowCd by Cuba that II is little men
ace 10 our entire control over the canal
The Bahamas are again shut of by Cuba
10 would seem that Providence has kept
the key points TO the isthmus until We
were ready to take them"
Captain BiclneII's Views.
Capt. C. A. BickneH L. s. y. spoke OF
the strategic nature Of the canal. He said
in part: Our Navy IS too small TO fulfill
its peace duties. except by the wide dis
persion Of naval vessels. Hence. always
for war there must be a concentration.
The isthmian canal will help this couceu-
tratiOn. whether The danger point be on
our eastern or western coast.
European nayies are so much stronger
in proportion TO their resources than is
ours in proportion TO our resources that
concentration is less necessary for them
than for us. To us it may be vital Wis
dom for us would be TO build the canal az
the first opportunity. TO purchase a striD
Of territory to make Il entirely ours and
to provide for its defence as a part OF the
national domain. The protection OF the
canal will be secured best by a feet IN
! ,he vicinity Of its entrances. The patri-
/ Otism and the intelligence Of the people
OF the United States. which have been am
| pie in the past, Will provide easily for this
! protection.
In time Of peace prepare for war Is a
rule OF national conduct as imperative now
as ever in the past. There are those no.
from their classic retreats OF peaceful
study. or from their editorial sanctums. or
from the desks where they are clipping
coupons, are eloquently assuring ms that
war is thing of the past; that this is
the era Of arbitration. and they point with
pride to The Hague conference.
'Unluckily for these rainbow chasers.
the daily kilograms tell US. as only the
sufferings or the death OF friends can tell
US. that war is real and an obstinateIy
recurring fact, inseparable from humani-
tvs life. and which nationally we must
provide for or suffer worse evils.
As Naval Facility.
Three considerations should lead us 10
be prepared always for war; First. war
has been the habit Of the United States:
second, Eurasia is opposed to our political
ideas and practices, and the desire Of its
peoples to fght MS can best be pacifed by
our readiness to fight them; third. the few
Intervals OF peace our country has enioyed
have been secured for us by the uneuualed
skill OF our diplomatic representatives
abroad. and the unfiBching patriotism Of
our consular service rather than by any
! fondness for peace by any of the powers.
Considered solely with reference TO the
! United States. the fOrty-five contiguous
States TO which only and to no others do
our people owe any political obligation
the canal seems to be naval need for the
common defence. Such vigorous young
sters as the United States may well be al
lowed what they need sometimes.
Considering the probable results OF our
last war. the extension OF our national in
terests in the tropical zone. Porto Rico.
Hawaii Tutuila. Guam, and the Philip
pines, and the not impossible accident of a
United States trade in the Pacific, the use
OF the canal would enable most OF our
Navy to reach the scene OF their useful
ness in one-third OF the time and distance
which is now necessary.
In our nations history the aim OF our
national defence. which has never failed
us, has been the Navy Scanty as 1t Is n
is now our most complete defence. From
present indications the Navy may soon be
more important to the national defence
than ever. Our Navy wishes the canal only
as a quicker way TO its various scenes. OF
duty. Our little Navy hopes that in those
scenes of duty however reached its fu-
ture may be worthy Of its own past