The Washington times., 1901-10-30
Ejaculation statement.
The American NnNy.

to the Secretary of the Navy the nava
construction programme for the year
As our information stands today, it vii
probably recommend four first-clas!
battleships of fifteen thousand tons dis
placement, carrying the maxima of ar
NOR and armament; four armoreC
cruisers of fourteen thousand tons dis
placement; twelve small gunboats fol
use in the Philippines. and number oi
auxiliary vessels-training ships, col
Hers. and so on.
1t has been hinted that one or more
members of the board have doubts as
to the ability of American ship yards &c
undertake the construction tentatively
planned, in addition to the work al
ready contracted for. If there be any
foundation for such view, it is mat
ter for regret. In that case, ways must
be found to increase our naval produc-
tive capacity, either by the encourage
ment OF more private plants or the es-
tablishment OF Government yards. In
any event the question of American
naval expansion must not be paftered
with.
1t would be the height Of folly for
Congress and the country not to under
stand at once, as we hope they do, that
the march of political and economic
events soon or late must bring US face
TO face with the necessity of fighting
for the Monroe Doctrine, as an alterna-
tive to its abandonment and the over
running of Central and South America
by European Powers. Already popula-
ton in Continental Europe is fast out
growing the ability of the home terri
tories to feed it. Hitherto the emigrat-
ing surplus has gone to strengthen the
producing and fighting power of the
United States and the British posses
sions. The tendency of such a move
ment OF the masses to weaken the coun-
tries of their birth, and to augment our
and England's competition with them
in the struggle of world life, is causing
alarm, and is exciting Governments TO
the adoption Of measures preparatory
to an ultimate struggle for the privilege
OF expansion in the only direction at
present worth the price of war, and
that, il is needless to say, is Central
and South America
practically certain, there is, therefore
no reason why we should harbor un-
friendly feelings toward any of the Eu
ropean States or peoples. Perhaps they
feel the same stern force of necessity
TO Insure their prosperity and to find
means of sustenance for their peasants
and artisans that we feel for our pro-
ducers and manufacturers when we de-
liberately invade and capture their
home markets with our machinery
rails. Goals. implements, tools, shoes. BIZ
cych }. and various other products
There are no means at the command of
CUR Continental competitors fer turning
around and invading our home market.
There Is an attractive con. .Inent TO the
south of us. no part of which could sue
cessfully resist European conquest and
colonization. and some day that will be
attempted, and then the issue will be
abandonment Of the Monroe Doctrine or
fight to a finish.
TIE time must come when the forces
now ceaselessly at work will lead up to
and make feasible a coalition, not so
much against US per Sc as against our
American policy. When that time
comes we shall not have England to
fight, but Continental Europe England
has possessions enough; the others are
lacking in them. England might not
interfere to prevent her Old World
neighbors from descending upon Brazil.
or Paraguay. Chile, Peru, Venezuela. or
Colombia, but 1t would not be to her
70
Why we need the greatest navy on
earth is because, evade the truth as we
may, we are taking the bread out of the
mouths Of the central and western Eu-
ropean millions, on the one hand. and
telling their Governments that they
shall not acquire or c0lonize territory
in the Western Hemisphere on the
other. This, and the other fact that we
have the greatest extent Of coast line
and the most exposed, Of any nation IN
the world. warn US to be up and doing
and not to allow Governments which
very conceivably in the future may be
enemies. to beat US in the race of build
ing battleships. cruisers, and gunboats.
When the hour of trouble comes. #
Will bring sea and not land fighting
with il; that is, IL we are wise in ad-
vance. There are two reasons for this.
In the first place the casus beIli IL near
ly certsin to be the invasion of a coun-
Try CT countries to the south Of US. with
Il view 10 conquest. That will bring the
Monroe Doctrine to issue and an Amer
lean feet to the scene. In the mean
time our shore line from Puget Sound to
and through the Nicaragua Canal. and
theEce 10 Nova Scotia, will have to be
protected against an international navy
OF enormous strength. With a navy Of
superior fighting power, officered with
men like Dewey and Schley. the coun-
trr would be spared the horrors of a
war on land, the bombardment Of great
Beacoast cities, and the march of
slaushterlng European armies into the
interior. Incidentally we are compelled
10 admit that with modern and con-
stanty improving means of transport |
ii would not be particularly difficult to |
land In this country an army which |
would be able TO work havoc for weeks
Of months before it could be successful
~ opposed, with the organized military |
forces we have or are likely to have at |
command for the next twenty years. i
IsaS great American navy could pre-
vent the landing Of such a force. and, |
Indeed. preclude the idea of despatching |
II at sii.
Shsl we balk at the cost of the navy |
every public man in the country knows |
= vital 10 cur future? The nation that !