The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-22
FOR A GREATER NAVY
HoBsoN's BILL INTRODUCED BY
 WILEY.
Provides for the Consecutive Increase of the Number of War Vessels Text of Merrimac's Hero's
 Measure.
Greensboro, Ala, Nov. 25. 1903,

GreensDoro, Ala, NOV 25, 1905. Hon. A. A. Wiley, M. C., House of Representatives. Washington,
 D. C.:
 Dear Sir: have the honor to request that upon the converting of Congress in regular session. you introduce ''by re- quest" the enclosed bill, providing for the consecutive increase in the vessels of the United States navy.
 The question of proportionate increase In auxiliary material and in personnel is left for additional legislation.
 The provision leaving the determina- tion of the types of vessels, the number of each type, and the characteristics of each vessel, to the President under pro fessional and technical advice, is intend ed to insure homogeneous fleets and up to date vessels.
 I estimate that the program provided for would make the United States the first naval power of the world in about eighteen years after its adoption and in- auguration.
 The commanding position guaranteed by naval supremacy Is the natural. log ical position for great nation that has no enemies and hates no people. America( holding this position, marked out for her by manifest destiny, would secure her own protection and peace and would ad- vance, by 6 mighty stride, the cause of peace and justice among all nations. Her movement forward into this position should be hailed with gladness by all peoples not bent on plumber and oppres- sion. A
 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.
 The homes of twenty millions of Amer ica's citizens and more than half of Amer ica's manufacturing industries are locat- cd within gun shot of the water. On her seventeen thousand miles of coast line, on her bays, harbors, rivers and lakes, there is accumulated more Ameri- can coastwise property and water car ried commerce calling for naval protection than there Is similar property and com merce for all of the continent of Europe combined, while America sends across the high seas to foreign markets more export property than any nation of the earth America has the greatest interests in the worlds new markets, With thousands of miles of coast line on the Pacific ocean and with thousands of miles of coast line on the Atlantic ocean and water ways that approach the Pacific through the
 
 ness that equals that of all Europe com bined, and with the highest elasticity of methods of production permitting readier response to new requirements. America has greater commercial interests at stake than any other nation in the mighty coming market of China, and likewise in the coming new markets of South America, and in the new markets of other undeveloped lands.
 Thus, as matter of insurance, to pro- tect these vast rmarinal interests against injury, America should have the largest navy in the world. Indeed, the true pro- portion would be more nearly manifest If Americas navy approached in size the combined navies of the earth.
 The United States is irrevocably com mitted to the fundamental principle of the Munroe 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.
 In the alignment over this doctrine, as indicated by the recent Venezuelan incl dent, Great Britain is liable to be ranged with the continental powers, placing America alone in front of combined Flu rope.
 To make the doctrine permanently ef- fective and secure. the United States must therefore. be prepared to send to South America as great q fleet as Europe could send.
 Moreover. to avert war over the Mon roe doctrine we must hasten the rehabiI- itation of our inadequate fourth rate navy against the day, fast approaching. when Europe will turn it's eyes from Asia and Africa upon South America.
 Aw,an ~,H-~ aV itics in recognizing America's duty to protect the Philippines against conquest and oppression by any military power of Europe The Philippines are 5000 miles away from us. across the sea, and are helpless to protect themselves. This bounded national duty will, therefore Ue fulfilled only through the agency of a mighty American navy
 America has become an Asiatic power at a critical juncture when China stands helpless before the great military powers. With vaster interests than any other power in the highest development of Chi mas commercial resources and with trea- ties granting her equal commercial rights, America cannot permit China to be par ticipatlng among the various military powers, a proceeding that would curtail China's development and endanger Amer icas right to fair play. It will not be safe to rely upon promises of an open door unless we can ourselves enforce their fulhllment
 Now, with her greater interests in the general welfare of mankind could Ameri- ca intelligently permit China to be seized by single military power, proceeding that would menace the world through the real yellow peril. There is no danger of the yellow men rising up of themselves, but there is great danger that these hoardes may be marshalled by military white men and hurled against their fel- low white men. The devastating wave of Gheniz Kahn that swept from Mongolia would be small in comparison to such a tide. Standing upon her rights, the United States, to safeguard her interests, should forbid the seizure of China either by a single power or a number of pow CTS. .,
 This position would be in Keeping with the added world responsibilities that have come tU America with her great growth. Less than ten millions of Americans made the Monroe doctrine cover the weak in North and South America. Eighty-five millions should extend the doctrine to cover the weak in China.
 In this question of the Far East Ameri- ca should join with others and urge for ward the proper opening up of China. make life and property secure and give western methods free course, to institute conditions for industrial and commercial prosgress, to assist in policing as far as necessary, to assist in regulating and ad- ministering as far as necessary, for which services America is the logical agent, having no jealousies and no terri torial ambitions, but she should insist upon the adoption. of policies having Chi mas highest good and the good of the whole world for their objective, such as the method by which Japan was left en-