The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-04-03


countrymen so believe. in it: but I
would infinitely prefer to see US aban-
don it than 10 see US put it forward
and buster about it, and yet fail to
build up the efficient fighting strength
which IN the last resort can alone make
/ it respected by any strong foreign pow
er whose interest It may ever happen to
be to violate it.
Boosting and clustering are as OBJ
jectiOnabie among nations as among
individuals, and the public men of q
great nation owe Il to their sense OF
national self-respect to speak couf-
teously of foreign powers just as a
brave and self~respacting man treats
all around him conrteOusly. But though
to boast is bad, and causeIessly to in
is it to be guilty. OF boasting, even
without insult, and when called to the
proof to be unable to make such boast
ing good There is q. homely old adage
which runs: Speak softly and carry
a big stick; you win go far. If the
American nation will speak softly. and
yet build. and keep at a pitch Of the
highest training, a thoroughly efficient
navy, the Monroe doctrine will go far.
ask YOU to think over this. If you do,
you will come to the conclusion that it
is mere plain common sense, so OBJ
viously sound that only the blind can
fail to see its truth and only the weak
est and most irresoIute can fail to de-
sire to put it into force.
LONG STRIDES IN TWO YEARS.
Well. in the last two years I am
happy to say we have taken long strides
in advance as regards our navy. The
last congress, in addition to smaller
vessels, provided nine of those fOrmid-
able fighting ships upon which the real
efficiency of any navy in war ultimate
~ depends It provided, moreover, for
the necessary addition of officers and
enlisted men to make the ships worth
having. Meanwhile the navy depart
ment has seen to it that our ships have
been constantly exercised at sea, with
the great guns, and in naneuVerS. so
their their efficiency as fighting units
both individually and when acting to-
gether, has been steadily improved.
Remember that all of this is necessary.
a war ship is a huge bit of mechanism,
Well-nigh as delicate and complicated
as it is formidable. It takes years to
build it. It takes years to teach the
officers and men how to handle it to
good advantage. 1t is an absolute inn
possibility to improvise navy at the
outset Of war. No recent war between
any two nations has lasted as long as
it takes to build a battle ship. and it
is just as impossible to improvise the
officers or the crews as to improvise
the navy.
ITO lay up a battle ship and only
send it afoat at the outset of a war,
with a raw crew and untried officers,
would be not merely d folly but a
crime. for it would invite both disaster
and disgrace. The navy which so
quickly decided in our favor the war
in 1898 had been built and made eff
Gent during the preceding fifteen years
The ships that triumphed off Manila
and Santiago had been built under
previous administrations with money
appropriated by previous congresses.
The officers and the men did their duty
SO well because they had already been
trained to it by long sea service All
honor to the gallant officers and gal
liant men who actually did the fighting;
but remember. too. to honor the public
men, the shipwrights, and steel work
ers, the owners of the shipyards and
armOr plants, to whose united foresight
and exertion we owe it that in 1898 we
had craft so good, guns so excellent,
and American Seamep of so high
type in the coming towers in the gun
turrets, and in the engine rooms. It is
too late to prepare for war when war
has come; and if we only prepare suffi-
GENTLY no war will eyer come. W wish
a powerful and efficient navy, not for
purposes of war, but as the suTest
guaranty of peace. If we have such a
we keep on building it up
we may rest assured that there is but
the smallest chance that trouble will
ever come to this nation; and we may
likewise rest assured that no foreign
power will ever quarrel with US about
the Monroe doctrine"
was renewed and continued applause,
and while the greater part of the au-
dienee was leaving the hall the presi-
dent was holding an impromptu recep-
ton on the platform, where all the
members of the committee that could
be seated with him on the platform and
many men of the audience pressed
round him to offer their congratula-
tons on his address. Scant time was
allowed for this. however and the Sc
cret service men closed about him dur
ing the snort handshaking and quickly
escorted him back to his apartments
in the hotel.
Immediately preceding his address in
the Auditorium President Roosevelt
was entertained at dinner in the ban
uuet hall of the Auditorium hotel by
the members of the local entertainment
committee About fifteen guests were
present beside the president and party.
F. O. Iowden presided and announced
at the outset that the dinner was to he
entirely informal and that there would
he no speeches. President Roosevelt
remained at the dinner, which lasted
from $50 o'clock until sos, when the
time had arrived for him to enter the
Auditorium hall
The president after leaving the Au-
ditoriun went at once to his room in
the hotel, where he Dartook of light
lunch. His carriage was called within
a few minutes after the lunch was FIN
ished and at 1925 o'clock. accompanied
nv a member of the local committee,
he was taken to the station OF the Chi
cago &. Northwestern, where his tram
was in waiting. He entered the tram
at once and retired for the night. IT
nnidnight the train pulled out for Madi-
son, Wis.