The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-01-08
FUTURE LODGE PICTURES
Massachusetts Senator's Brilliant
Speech in Connection with
Army Bill.

izatiOn bill in the senate today Lodge
drew a brilliant word picture Of the
present and future of the United
States.
II am no alarmist and I have no
fears that we are in danger Of war
with anybody, said Lodge, "and 1 do
not believe there is a nation On the
face Of the earth that has any desire
to attack us, but no man can tell what
may happen at anytime.
"We have come in the process OF
our development until we have ex-
banded far beyond our own markets
commercially and we are breaking
into every market Of the world. It is
a part of our economic development.
We are marching along toward econ
omic supremacy of the world, in my
judgment. Look at Europe and COM
pare it with the United States. It has
been worked over for a thousand
years at least in the endeavor to draw
out all it's esources
"Here in the United States we are
holding all the best part of the
Norther American continent. Look
at our map, a great symetrical coun-
try all under one flag, no separate
government, your railroads running
in steady connections and carrying
freight from the Atlantic to the Pacific
and from the lakes to the gulf.
Europe cannot beat that.
EVERY separate state system, every
separate railroad she has enhances the
cost Of her articles. We are beating
her in iron and steel. We can turn
them out at a price Europe cannot
meet. We are going to surpass her in
other articles. She has to take coal
from us. It is a mere question of
time when her last stronghold, the
carrying trade, will be invaded. We
will build ships cheaper than she can.
We shall in some way or another equal
her subsidies to steamships by u
subsidies and put our ship III III even
plane Of competition. Does anyone
suppose other people like our indus
trial achievements? They are strug-
CLING to get an opening for overc1owd-
ed population and for overproduction.
That is why they have seized Africa,
that is why they have seized the
islands Of the Pacific. China got into
trouble and they thought there would
come a new division and they could all
get their share. 1t has been stopped.
"The Chinese empire is going to be
held together and its markets opened
to all nations of the world. I do not
say anything improper or boast unduly
when I say that it was owing to the
United States that the policy was
adopted instead of another. We be-
lieve in it.
It is a great policy. We are all in
sympathy with it, but do you suppose
other countries like it? I doubt it
very much.
"Anyone who has read the newspap-
ers lately will have noticed that there
has been a continual talk about econ
,omic declarations to shut out the
United States from Europe. In other
words, they feel that economic pres
sure that we are putting upon them.
They will try to meet us undoubtedly
in the great field of economic rivalry.
I believe that with our resources,
with the character of our people, Of
our new country with our great con-
tinent, that the victory can only be
with us and that there can be but one
end t o that conflict of economic
forces.
I'VE occupy a great position econ
omically. We are marching on to a
still greater one. You may imperil it,
perhaps, by legislation, you may
check, but you cannot stop the work
of the economic forces. We may
blunder here in legislating, but the
American people and enonomic forces
which underlie all are carrying u for
ward to the economic supremacy Of
the world. It is a great position, but
dazzled by its splendor don't forget
its perils. It carries it's dangers with
it and I want to see the United States
always prepared to meet those dan
gers. We have no quarrel with any
nation. and I hope we shall have none.
] see none who would wish to attack
us, but I wish to see the United
States 80 prepared that under these
new conditions she always will be
safe by sea and by land.
Control of the ocean is vital to us.
That il why I have always advocated
d navy, and a powerful navy we must
have. ! wish to see our army, whether
liz is 10, 900 or 30, 900 or 100, 900
stronger, organized with the utmost
skiu and utmost science, SO that if the
hour Of peril ever does come we shall
have 4 system which car expand on
the instant, one which will not i'm
mediately produce disaster and trou-
81. stumbling and hesitation, as it
did sc the beginning Of the Spanish
~ Make your army large or
$50 circumstances demand, but
nke y0ur organisation OF that army
best, tho most flexible, the most
asttc, A tie world. $1,000.