The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-27

This is Americas glourious destiny. The embodiment herself of the new era, Heav en has allotted to America the task of peacefully overthrowing militarism and thereby extending the blessings of peace and industrialism until they reach all the people that dwell upon the earth.
 It Is evidently through the agency Of her navy alone that America can fulhll all of these. her high duties to mankind.
 Thus sacred duty, together with the security of vast interests, call for Amer 1can naval supremacy.
 Tt will be found too, that the oDjee- tions to her naval expansion are untena- ble- On the score of expense, America has unmeasured resources and at the same time is not burdened by a great national debt and does not have the expense of great standing armies leaving Che men to productive pursuits, increase of pro- ductiveness being the very watchword for all
 '4The programme in the bill attached would not increase by one-tenth of 1 per cent the tax rate of the American people. Literally if America maintained a navy equal to the combined naves of the world she would not be conscious of a burden. Evidently S50,000,000 for new ships the first year is a modest beginning. The addition of $10,000,0 900 a year would scarcely be in keeping with her increase in population and increase in wealth, while money ex- pended at home would put the money h the treasury back into circulation and would quicken our industries.
 Navy Factor of Economy.
 Furthermore, a great navy, in prevent ing war, would be an important factor of economy. Millions for warships will save billions for war
 erhe various European powers olAght | fl,,N .,..I friendly, peaceful America. rather than one of their own number, should hold na- val supremacy. But in any event they must realize that all combined cannot ul- timately compete with America. There fore the proposed programe in which Am erica proclaims that she intends to be first will prevent expedition.
 ''Objection is raised by some who super fically confound naval power with mili- tary power, that naval expansion would tend to lead the nation into militarism. As a matter of fact, security through naval power permits a nation to dispense with military organization of it's peo- pie Naval power is simply a question of resources, capacity to pay for building and maintaining fleets, where the adyan- tage comes from peace and uninterrupted 1 industry.
 With navy equal to the combined navies of the world, the number of men required in her naval organization would only be a negligible handful and that handful would dwell so far away on the sea, where it could not influence the vast 1 body of our population. No navy has ever usurped civil power or overthrown home government. Further, in preventing war, a great navy would prevent tenden- cies to militarism.
 As to War Temptation.
 Some fear that in holding naval pow CT, we should incur temptation to go to war If America does not hold this power the military nations will hold 1t, and If there were a temptation involved, surely it would be safer for us than for military powers to be called on to meet the temp tation.
 "As a matter of fact, the responsibilities | that go with naval power, particularly the protection of the weak would steady Am erica and make her more careful and tol- erant, would ennoble her life The one besetting sin and inherant weakness and danger in our free instltu- 1 tions is that as individuals and as na- tion, we tend too much to live unto our- selves. The individual absorbed in per- | sonal affairs tends to forget and neglect l his duty to the state. The nation absorb l ed in domestic affairs tends to forget world affairs and neglect world duties. ] The neglect of the individual entails mal- administration, glaring in municipal gov ernments. The neglect of the nation en- | tailed decay of the navy and the relega- 1 ton of America to an inferior role in world affairs where Americas influence Is so l much needed.
 An industrial, commercial people, we | need some noble outside purpose to offset a tendency toward materialism and self 1 ishness. America going forth in the world today to do her duty and help others in- stead of finding added temptations and | greater dangers would actually find the very tonic that her body polite needs to keep the nations conscience right and its heart pure.
 s'No man can live unto himself, neither l can a nation. She cannot dig hole In the ground and bury ten talents; on the con- trary she must live the life of the good and faithful servant, and 1t is only in living such life in the fulfllment of duty that the nation can expect the smile and continued blessing of Heaven.
 "In conclusion I wish to add that in the course of speeches developing these ar | guments, addressed to more than O0O l American citizens in forty-four states and territories, I have never yet found l one citizen man or woman, who, after hearing the arguments, a'Tered as to the conclusion. If the peog,es representa- 1 ives will act, the people will sustain them in making effective programme lige that one in the enclosed bill which only meets ! the requirements necessary to safeguard our countrys vast, vital, material busi- ness interests and to fulfll her sacred duties to mankind.
 "With assurances of high esteem, I re- main, Very truly yours
 (Signed.)
 'RICHMoND PEARSON ROBSON