The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-05
RAISE UP THE FLAG
Captain HObsOn Tells of Naval
Supremacy.
Uncle Sam Should Be Ruler of
Seas.
MADE A GOOD TALK.
Audience Delighted With the
Hero of Santiago.
Why Uncle Sam May Need a
Greater Navy.

Richmond Pearson Hobson. known to
the world as the hero of the Merri-
mae" delivered an interesting and stir
ring lecture at the Auditorium last
night on the subject of The United
States as a World Power" The only
feature of the evening that might have
been improved upon was the audience
which should have been larger consid-
ering Captain Hobson's reputation as
a speaker. There were about thou
sand people present.
Judging from the amount of APP
plause that the speaker received last
night it would be safe to say that there
was no one in the house but enjoyed
the lecture thoroughly and that there is
no doubt that many a person was in
formed today that they missed hearing
the best speaker that has appeared at
the Auditorium for a long time.
Captain Hobson lectured al the Audi
torium last night under the auspices OF
the Young Mems Christian Association.
In response to short Introductory
speech by Henry ]. Allen Captain Hob
son said that it gave him great pleas
ure to appear before Topeka audience
for the first time and it especially
pleased him that he should appear I'M
der the auspices of the 7. NJ. G. A.
Then followed a short talk by him IN
praise of the association.
Since Captain Hobson resigned from
the navy a short time ago he has spent
most of his time on the lecture stage
Although he is no longer in the navy
he still takes strong interest in 1t
and his chief motive in lecturing is to
advocate American naval supremacy.
Captain HObson is strong believer IN
Americans and their ability to do
great things He says that the Euro
peans are inferior to Americans in ev-
cry way. He believes that the Ameri-
can navy should be increased until it
becomes the largest and strongest navy
in the world. One of the main features
of the lecture last night was plea Tor
the enlargement of the navy In fact
he talked more on the subject OF the
enlargement of the navy than any
thing else
Captain Hobson's appearance is that
of a genuine American. He IS a man
every inch of him and shows it in ev-
ervthing he does and says. He is not
quite as large a man as one would eX-
poet to see after seeing one of his pic
lures, but he is we'll built, carries him
self we'll and apparently has an excel
lent physique He is the kind of man
who creates admiration not only among
women but among men also. The many
little gestures and facial expressions
which he uses while speaking are
peculiar and remarkable. The nrst
thing that he does after making
statement is to draw his eyebrows to-
gether in a frown and to set has lower
law firmly as if to defy contradiction
He has very small and expressive
hands which he uses to good adVdn-
tage in making a great many elaborate
gestures His voice is magnificent and
is especially well suited to the work IN
which he is now engaged. ms enuncl-
alton is perfect and he could pc heard
hit TfFIF1
part of the Auditorium Captain HOP
son looks. acts and talks like the south
erner that he is.
CAPTAIN Hobson is especially we'll
versed in the different matters OF Wnlch
he smoke last night. Statistics are TO
his liking and he uses them to great
advantage in his lecture. Through the
whole lecture he speaks with the ease
and duency of one who knows what ne
is talking about. He uses most of his
statistics to show the supremacy of the
United States over the countries OF hu-
eve are about the only nation" said
CAPTAIN Hobson. that can mold up our
ruled or conquered by any other nation
We are of a race of giants, and 1t IS
necessary that we grow and thrive ina
we may be able to wear the nantes
that have been cast upon US Dy our
giant forefathers.'
The speaker stated that there is no
doubt but the United States of America
is now in such a prosperous CONDITION
that she would be able to sustain the
population Of the rest of the world, and
at the same time the products Of the sos
would not be taxed as much as that OF
Europe is at the present time
America is far ahead Of Europe in
all of the pursuits of industry" said
CAPTAIN FobsOn. "One American. by a
conservative estimate, is the equal and
equivalent of three and half Euro
peans. This is simply a plain matter
Of mathematics. AT present we are
equivalent to one third of this wide
world. 1 predict that the day will come
when we viii be equivalent to all the
rest of the world"
IN Europe" said the speaker. The
en7blems of war are on every side. The