The St. Louis Republic., 1904-01-27
NANAL APPROPRIATIONS

Navy expenditures must meet the nations needs
We possess the Philippines. weak and vuinerabl,
any spot ever offered 10 the enemies of Il couil
try We are IN charge of the Panama canal
physical and political obligation which We could moi
avoid. We remember how Boston and Baltimore
ans, Charleston Shrieked for protection when Ger
yeras four rusty cruisers crossing the ocean
With knowledge of these and other facts il is diocy
" suppose that hesitate at enlarstp- our
naval strength.
Great plans lninifestly for the protection ana
sound administration Of the United States rise above
the level of party to the plane of national necessity
and compel the support of all the peoples represent-
arives Independently of politics. Such plan is
that now iii process for developing the navy which
calls for appropriation Of roughly. 4 hun
dred millions. II is incumbent upon the party Of
the people not only conccle support of the plan.
in lis development.
Even were there some division of public Scnti-
ment upon the matter. and could Democracy con
>i>trntl: oppoS" the development upon 50 large 4
scale, ii would not hehoove the party for The mere
purpose of opposition 10 do Bun the fart is that
there is division upon the question of sufficient
navy; nor would the people tolerate an attempt to
make thereof party issue.
In view Of the Democratic party's position in
urging the Cuban war it cannot antagonizc the de
veiopmeni Of our strength n Nor AT this date
can opposition he based upon objection 10 Republic
an Imperialism. Although the greatest mistake
ever made by this country was the reaching ont
with attruuatci perialistic arm for the Philip
pines The fact lie considered is that the di..
nifty and physical competence OF the United STATES
must be preserved under the complex conditions of
the Oriental situation. We may not thank orr Re
publican brethren for assuming the incumbrance of
those difficulties. but must. that the title
deyolvrS upon lis. maintain it itingy
Nothing less than formidable naval power Will
suffice for the permanent enforcement OF That de-
fined respect and observance which We demand cr
HE Powers for our Monroe Doctrine. This great
policy will survive propr!a vlgorc
hut by-to state it bluntly-the force of American
guns Further the lSthlnan canal mu!tiples our
and naval necessities. The navy in
reaSe and the Panama treaty i'll large phase.
plane of American essentials. Assuming the vital
need of constructing and maintaining the canal IN
Ter our prOprieorSiIip how imperative becomes thc
demand for Il greater navy. by opening th, water
way We merely invite difficulties. unless pro-
vide Il commensurate adequate increase in naval
strength. Having merely opened the canal We
should lac but creating an advantage. for Powers |
which possess superior lighting strength Iuciden-
ally it Will not do to base opposition to the canal
lpon such an argument lack Of power to |
maintain fit propretorShp and regulation of it, nor
viii 1t do To o'struct the naval appropriation for the
purpose Of setting up such palpably academic OBJ
ectOn.
Last. but not leaSr. is the commercial c0nSidtra
ion. ON the r;lnk with The first nations as
business nation. To protect enormous wealth. |
onstantly trayersing tile ocean great navy is in
tiSpensa bie-a necessary form OF marine iuSur
nee" Lord Bcresfofd recently observed. Our
apidly growing SCI: commerce will demand create
protection than olr present array of fighting ships
"uld guarantee Indefinitely.
Maintenance of Americas sea strength must be .
harge upon the party in power. lis proper de
eiopment should lie policy of either party The
Roosevelt administration must have credit for it's
performance along This line The President has
aused naval maneuvers 10 be held on a large scale
nd has greatly encouraged gllnnery practice I'M
'roving the quality and force of American seaman
hip by increasing the size of the Annapolis scho0
vas Il commendabe measure.
OF course. the idea of great and enlarged navy
id not originate with Mr.. Roosevelt. Even if il
ad. no false pride of party should prevent Democ
acy's conceding an uugrudging approval and sup
ort of what manfeStly is for the nations idvdn-
age, strength and wellbeing