, 1901-12-05
BY making a large addition to the classes at


Our Present naval foFCp
I'VE now have seventeen battleships, sp,,
propriated for. OF which nine are eonpe
ice. The remaining eight Will De reapy ~
from two TO four years. but II VIII uhke ~
least that time to recruit and tram the Hen
TO fghr them. 1t is of vast concern that we
have trained crews ready for the vessels py
the time they are commissioned. Gooo snips
and good guns are simply good weapons anu
The hest weapons are useless save in tine
hands Of men who know how to hght WIN
them, The men must be trained anu uil,eu
under a thorough and well-planned system
OF progressive instruction. while the recrult,
ing must be carried on with still greater
9The naval militia forces are state organi-
ations and are trained for coast service, and
in event Of war they will constitute the inner
line of defense. They should receive hearty
encouragement from the general government.
But in addition we should at once pro,
vide for a National Naval Reserve; orsanizeu
and trained under the direction of the Navy
Department, aud subject to the call OF the
Chief Executive whenever war becomes lmnl-
nent. 1t should be a real auxiliary to the
fer material to he drawn on at once Tor
manning our ships in time OF war; II snouiu
be composed OF graduates Of the Naval Acad-
envy, graduates Of the Naval Militia, officers
and crews OF coast-line steamers. longshore
schooners. fishing vessels and steam yachts,
together with the coast population ABOUT
such centers as life-saving stations and hsht-
houses.
Need for Powerful Navy.
THE American people must either build
and maintain an adequate navy or else make
up their minds definitely to accept a sec
ondary position in international affairs, not
merely in political. but in commercial, mat
ters. 1t has been well said that there is no
surer way Of counting national disaster than
to be 'opulent, aggressive, and unarmed.
IT is not necessary TO increase our army
beyond its present size at this time. But II
is necessary to keep I; at the highest point
Every effort should be made to bring the
army to n constantly increasing state of ei-
hciency. when on actual service no work
save that directly in the line of such service
should be required. The paper work in the
army. as In the navy, should be greatly re-
duced. What is needed is proved power Of
command and capacity 10 work well in the
field. Constant care is necessary to prevent
dry rot in the transportation and commits
sary departments.
The Congress should provide means where
by it will be possible TO have field exercises
by at least a division of regulars, and II
possible also n division OF national guards
Only actual handling and providing for
men in masses while they are marching,
camping, embarking, and DISSEMINATING. VIII
It be possible to train the higher officers to
perform their duties well and smoothly.
"A great debt is owing from the public TO
the men OF the army and navy. They should
he so treated as to enable them to reach the
highest point Of efficiency. so that they may
be able to respond instantly to any demand
made upon them to sustain the interests OF
the nation and the honor of the flag. The
individual American enlisted man Is prop
ably on the whole n more formidable hghiing
man than the regular of any other army.
Every consideration should be shown him,
and in return the highest standard of use
fulness should be exacted from him. II is
well worth while for the Congress to con
slider whether the pay OF enlisted men upon
second and subsequent e~nlistments should
not be increased to correspond with the in
creased value OF the veteran soldier.
Militia Laws Obsolete.
Action should be taken in reference TO the
militia and to the raising of volunteer forces.
our militia law IL obsolete and worthless.
The organization and armament of the Ma
uonal Guard OF the several states, which are
treated as militia n Ne appropriations by
the Congress, should be made Identical with
those provided for the regular forces. The
obligations and duties of the Guard In time
OF war should be carefully defined, and a
system established by law under which the
method OF procedure of raising volunteer
forces should be prescribed in advance. 1t
is utterly impossible in the excitement and
haste OF impending war to do this satisfac-
torily If the arrangements have not been
made long beforehand. Provision should be
made for utilizing in the first volunteer or
CARNATIONS called out the training Of those
| citizens who have already had experience un-
der arms, and especially for the selection in
advance OF the officers OF any force which
may be raised: for careful selection OF the
kind necessary is impossible after the out
break OF war.
THAT the army is not at all a mere in
strument OF destruction has been shown dur
ing the last three years, In the Philippines,
Cuba and Porto Rico II has proved itself a
great constructive force. a most potent i'm
i~liLation.
Eulogy OF Veterans.
other citizens deserve so we'll of the
republic as the veterans. the survivors of
those who saved the union. They did the
one deed which II left undone would have
meant that all else in our history went for
nothing. But for their steadfast prowess in
the greatest crisis of our history, all our
I "a "a ~ "a ! uFnnlH ~. MAJ - FHR aEN TNNr UFnat
experiment In popular freedom and self-gov
eminent n gloomy failure. Moreover. they
not only left us a united nation, but they left
US also as a heritage the memory OF the
mighty deeds by which the nation was kept
united. We are now indeed one nation, one
in fact as well as in name; we are united
in our devotion to the flag which is the sym.
Dol of all national greatness and unity; and
the very completeness of our union enables
us all, in every part Of the country. to glory
in the valor shown alike by the sons of the
North and the sons OF the South in the
times that tried mems souls.
Merit system Endorsed.
The merit system OF making appointment
is in its essence as democratic and American
as the common schools system itself. 1t sim
ply means that In clerical and other positions
where the duties are entirely non-political
all applicants should have a fair field ant
no favor. each standing on his merits as he
is able to show them by practical test. Writ
ten competitive examinations oner the only
available means In many cases for applying
u AAAAe sN' ~ 'NaNA a = No HA'Af IA
borers are employed, a system OF registra.
ton undoubtedly can be widely extended
There are, Of course, places where the writ
ten competitive examination cannot be ap.
piled, and others where it offers by no mean
an ideal solution, but where under existing
political conditions 1t is, though All imperfcc
means, yet the best present means of get
ting satisfactory results.
lit is important to have this system OBJ
tain at home. but IL is even more important
to have 1T applied rigidly in our insular pos
sessions. The administration OF these ISLANDS
should be as wholly free from the suspicion
Of partisan politics as the administration o
the army and navy. All that We ask from
the public servant in the Philippines or Port
Rico is that he reflect honor on his countr!
by the way in which he makes that coun
try's rule a benefit to the peoples who hayt
come under IL This is all that We shoulI
ask, and we cannot AFFORD to be content will
less"
Treatment of Indians.
The message points out the defects in GU
present consular service, and tn
passage Of bills now before Congress tina
Will Increase It's efficiency. OF the India
problem 1t says
In my Judgment the time has arrive
when We should definitely make up our mind
to recognize the Indian as an individual an
not as a member OF a tribe. The Genera
Allotment Act Is a mighty pulyeriEing engin
. 80 IEaaI as. NHa ENka VaL.4 IL 9aHr AHT-aN