The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-11-03

tgiously to observe tho spirit ana lnt .t
rs we'll as the letter Of the Constitution,
az we'll az nm innhte love of peace ana
fair dealing. You may judge for your.
selves how dangerous lis such power
under thu influence OF tho imper!allstic.
tendency, with Its lust OF conquest a, 1
dominion, its love OF adventure and mil
tary achievement, and Its proneness 70
.impulsiyc action and dramatic display.
Cost Not Regarded.
"Thc imperialistic tendency armed with
that power will be all the more danger.
GUS when It Is a the same time hrlncu
with an ample supply Of fighting ma
tcrial ready for action. Until very re-
cent period We enjoyed the priceless
blessing OF living in perfect peace ana
security without bearing The bnrden Q.
u large army and navy. costing ur'oiu
millions year--;l unique privilege OF
which other nations, grooming unocr
heavy military and naval expenditures,
cnyIed us most heartily. Our imrcrial-
lists now tell us that this must cease 70
be 70. According TO them We must nave
d much larger army in proportion than
before and our Secretary OF the Navy
assures u. that we must have the big,
Egcst navy In the world, whatever he
cost, 1gj}
Il Not in Danger.
Have you ever seen anybody able TO
give sou an intelligent and satisfactory
reason why We must have those things!
some say that We must have them 70
project our commerce.. I ask then, has
there ever been single moment since
the year 1872. when our commerce surfer
ed In the least from tho want OF biz
navy TO protect It? others say We must
lave il to enforce the Monroe Doctrine.
Was there ever, before or since. our
Civil War. single occasion when the
Monroe Doctrine failed, so to speak, TO
cnforc. Itself without having Il big army;
or a big navy #
Judge Parker alluded to the Venezue-
Ian affair as showing that we do not
reed big armies or navies for the en-
forcement OF Just demands. but that
whether armed or unarmedf every Euro
pcan power will 80 to the extreme of
concession to avoid a serious quarrel with
this republic.
No Danger Of Trouble.
Every sensible man knows that there
10 not one OF those powers which enter
tains the slightest idea of attacking lis,
that they will rendily comply with what
ever we can dccently ask for. and that II
we are to have any conflict with any
one Of them, we shall have to bring It on
ourselves By uncomfortable provocation.
The simple reason is that. aside from
what moral love OF peace they may
cherish they can hardly afford to have
a serious struggle with so rcsourceflli and
rcrtinacious and antagonistic renub-i
lie as this is, IN view OF the possibility
OF dangerous complications at home.
Our absolute safety from foreign aE-
grcssion as every reasonable person wi
admit. being thus assured. may ask
my sober-minded conntrymen for whats
purpose large armies and big navics-'
the charac tersic tool and favoritc orila-t
lnent OF cmpre--lnay be wanted by lis.
Bcing entirely unnecessary for defense
is the greatest navy In the world or any
big navy the cost of construction am
maintenance OF which Will run into the
hundreds OF millions, needed or intend d
for any other purpose? II not. then the
building and maintenance thereof is
wanton waste of the peoples money,
wicked and objectionable. n
A Salient Question.
"But II 1t is designed for any o her
p,rpose, what is that purposa? RI ITO
world abrond Will but too probably see
in It design Of aggressive movements
on our part This would have aSmoat
unfortunate effect. Whether we en-
terrain such plans or not--and3 am co.'s
fIdent large majority Of the American
people do not entertain thenl--thc world
viii always he dlstrustful OF our pro-
LESSONS CT q peacenble disposition, How
over smooth our speech may be IN favor
of peace congresses and arbitration
courts. the world will see in the building
OF large nayies, utterly unnecessary for
defense threat Of armed aggression,
transformation OF the old re ubttlc1n
peace power into an empire preparing
for war. The inevitable result Will jDc