Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-10-03
AN INCREASED NAvY-THE BEST
GUARANTEE or PEACE.

ioiiOWtuE NV VIZ hs'hb |
utterances and quotations by Presi-
dent Roosevelt which show his views
OF the desirability OF a large navy
the best guarantee of peace.
We need to keep In a condition OF
preparedness, especially as regards
| our navy, moi because we want war,
but because ws desire to stand with
those whose plea for peace Is listened
To with respectful attention. New
York, November IL, 1922
Unreadiness for wal Is merely
rendered more disastrous by readi.
ness to buster, TO talk defiance and
advocate a vigorous policy In words,
while refusing to back up these
words by deeds Is cause for humilia-
ton. IL has always been true, and
In this age 1t IL more than ever true.
that 1t Is too late 10 prepare for war
when the time for peace has passed,
The shortsightedness of many peo-
pie, the good-humored Indifference to
facts Of others, the sheer ignorance Of
a vast number, and the selfish reluc-
lance to insure against future danger
by present sacrifice among yet others
these are the chief obstacles to
building up a proper navy and carry,
ing out a proper foreign policy.
t"Washington's forgotten MAXIM"
American Ideals. p. 27f.)
A nation should never fight unless
forced to: but 1t should always be
ready to fight. The mere fact that 1t
Is ready will generally spare II the
necessity OF fighting. t"Washington's
forgotten maxim" American Ideals, p.
2s4.)
The American people must either
build and maintain an adequate navy
or else make up their minds definite
ly to accept a secondary position in
International affairs, not merely in
political. but In commercial matters.
II as been well said that there Is no
surer way Of courting national dis.
aster than TO be %''opulent, aggressive
and unarmed," (Annual message, first
session, Fifty.seyenfh Congress.)
There never Is and never has been
on our part a desire TO use a weapon
because of its being well tempered
There Is not the least danger that the
possession OF "a good navy will ren-
der this country oyerbearing toward
It's neighbors. The direct contrary Is
the truth. c'Washington's forgotten
maxim" American Ideals, 2. 2Si)
We ask for a great navy, We ask
for an armament fiji for the nations
needs, not primarily to fight, but to
avert fighting. Preparedness deters
the foe and maintains right by the
show Of ready might without the use
of violence. Peace, like freedom6 is
not a Gift that tarries long in the
hands of towards or of those too
feeble or too short sighted to deserve
ii. and we ask 10 be given the means
to insure that honorable peace which
alone Is worth having, C'Washing-
toms forgotten maxim" American
Ideals. p. 2Ss)
SO far from being in any way a
%proyocation TO war, an adequate and
highly trained navy is the best guar
anty against war. the cheapest and
most Elective peace insurance. The
cost of building and maintaining such
a navy represents the very lightest
premium for i%nsurng peace which
his nation can possibly pay
annual message, first session, fifty
seventh Congress.l
II in the first decade of the present
century the American people ana
their rulers had possessed the wis
dom to provide an efficient fleet of
powerful b%attlesips, there would
probably have been no war Of 1912;