The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-27
America Fitted for Navy.

Amerlca Fitted for Navy.
 Europe, Asia and Africa are joined by land, America is the oceans continent and nature, in shaping this continent gave her bays, harbors, navigable rivers and great lakes, as she did not give to the rest of the world combined
 "rhe homes of 10000 GOO of America's $ citizens and more than half of America s manufacturing industries are located within gun shot of the water. On her 17,000 miles of coast line, on her bays, har- bors, rivers and lakes, there is acumu- lated more American coastwise property and water carried commerce calling for naval protection than there is similar property and commerce for all the conti- nent of Europe combined, while America sends across the high seas to foreign mar kets, more export property than any na- tion of the earth America has the great est interests in the worlds new mar kets With thousands of miles of coast line on the Pacific ocean and thousands of miles of coast line on the Atlantic ocean and water ways that aprpoach the Pacific through the isthmus of Panama, with the productiveness that equals that of all Europe combined, and with the highest elasticity of the methods of pro- duction permitting readier response to new requrements,' America has greater commercial interests at stake than any other nation in the mighty coming mar ket of China, and likewise in the coming new markets of South America and in the new markets of other undeveloped lands.
 Thus, as a matter of insurance, to pro- tect these vast interests against injury. America should have the largest navy in the world Indeed the true proportion would be more nearly maintained If Am erica's navy approached in size the com bined navies of the earth.
 Committed to Monroe Doctrine.
 "The United States is irrevocably com mltted to the fundamental principle of the Monroe doctrine. the protection of the weak in South America against con- quest and oppression by the unjust strong. Our armies cannot march to South America, the enforcement of this principle. therefore, rests with our navy.
 Tn the alignment over this doctrine, as indicated by the recent Venezuelan incident Great Britain is liable to be ranged with the continental powers, plac- ing America alone in front of combined Europe To make the doctrine perma nently effective and secure. the United States must, therefore, be prepared to send to South America as great fleet as Europe could send
 
 roe doctrine, we must hasten the rehab- iitation of our inadequate fourth rate navy against the day, fast approaching, when Europe will turn its eyes from Asia and Africa upon South America.
 "Americans are unit, regardless of politics, in recognizing Americas duty to protect the Philippines against conquest and oppression by any military power of Europe. The Philippines are eight thou sand miles away from us, across the sea, and are helpless to protect themselves. This bounded national duty can there fore be fulfilled only through the agency of mighty American navy.
 "Amefica has become an Asiatic power at critical juncture when China stands helpless before the great military DOW CTS With vaster interests than any other power in the highest development of Chinas commercial resources and with treaties granting her commercial rights, America cannot permit China to be partioned among the various powers. proceeding that would cripple China $ development and endanger America s right to fair play It will not be safe to rely upon promises of an open door un-