The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1903-10-01
Hohson's Error

Editor Independent: A telegram of
September 8, 1908, from Tuscaloosa,
Ala, stated that, on the previous day,
Captain Richmond Pearson Hobson,
Z. S. n, delivere~ there the first of a
series of lectures on Americas
Mighty Mission in the World closing
his address with an appeal that the
American navy Should be placed in the
front rank, for which he advocated the
expenditure Of 1900, 600, 900 for new
ships, covering a period of thirteen
years, beginning with $4,000, 900 to be
appropriated at the next session of
congress, and increasing this by $1O,-
100000 each succeeding year.
However Intellectual the sinking Of
the Merrimac might have proved, as a
military measure, the originality of its
conception, and the skill and courage
of its execution, mark it as one of the
few noteworthy episodes of a greatly
oyerrated war.
But when the hero of that event
rushed into series of magazine ar
ticles, as his own apologist, he fell in
the public estimation; and it was not
long before his osculatory perform
ances brought him general ridicule.
These Offenses against mOdesty and
dignity may be extenuated to some ex-
tent on the score of youth. But Cap
tain Hobson's naval program merits
no leniency from public opinion. The
proposal of any such program would
indeed, be considered amusing las
would also its authors ambition for a
seat in the national house of repre-
sentatives) were it not for the fact
that he is but an extreme advocate of
a doctrine whose apparently growing
popularity is equalled only by its dan
ger to the republic.
To the man who believes in the
steady march of civilization and the
vitalizing power of Christianity, ii
must appear as an alarming sign Of
national degeneracy when, in the year
OF our Lord 1903, in an age when the
ruler OF the most despotic government
of Europe sees an international court
OF arbitration established upon his own
initiative, and even suggests interna-
tiOnal disarmament; in an age when
the arts of peace are supposed to be
supplanting the arts of war throughout
the world-when in such an age, the
United States of America, the land of
free institutions. the land where, if
much be solved those great
social problems which have vexed |
mankind from the beginning, SO far
neglects these supreme interests as to
propose a steady increase of military
burdens-burdens which, having been |
largely fostered as a means of further |
ing the pride and ambition of kings,
at the expense of their subjects, have
been principal bane of all people. in /
all chimes, and in all ages-burdens
against which the masses of Europe |
are today increasingly protesting
burdens which our comparatively iso-
lated geographical position and our
independence of Europ-
con politics render absolutely indie
which are peculiar
y incompatible with the progress and
destiny of a free people.
The man who advocates such a dis
tinctly retrograde movement in our ma
Lional life, whether that man be ma
val captain, or the admiral of the
navy, or the secretary Of the navy, or
the president of the United States,
should be branded as thoroughly
dangerous demagogue.
~ ~ JOHN SAMPSON.
Washington. d. c.. |,