Arizona republican., 1904-02-26
Congressman Burton Without
 Following.

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 it was to be expected that Congress- man Burton of Ohio would find no en- couragement among his fellow repub- Iscans for his scheme to defeat all appropriations for increasing the navy this year. It may be true that we are building a great navy more rapidly than the exigencies of the future will seem to justify, but in the very nature Of the case this is a question that 1t Is almost impossible to settle. It is paradox of diplomacy that the nation Uhich has a great and efficient navy is likely to find that it has no practical ure for that navy. In other words, the possession of a powerful navy goes far toward assuring the blessings Of peace; and it might be argued in definitely that expenditure for navy should be charged to the expense of pegce and not to the cost of war
 And especially is this an inopportune time to abandon the national policy or adding one or more battleships to the American navy each year. The Millen- nium may be at hand-it is possible that we entered the new era some time ago. as argued by some theologians- but certainly We have not yet reached the golden age in which all wars are thing of the past. Not only are great wars still possible but right now the danger Is greater than at any time since Napoleon's day that the entire world may become involved in the most stupenduous war that civiliza- ton has known. All Americans will hope that a safe course may be steered for the United States, but they will believe. also. that the armed strength of this government will count for much in holding the balance for peace. EX- cept among the theorists who seldom come down from the clouds. there win be little sympathy with the views 0f Congressman Burton, Henry Loomis Nelson and others who would have Uncle Sam stand naked and unarmed among the powers of the earth.
 It is because she holds no delusiOns as 10 the benevolence of the nations of Europe that Japan decided a few days ago to take her national life in her hands and try the issue once for all with Russia. The lesson of China was before her. China, with 400 million people is helpless in the hands of the national robbers of the world because there is no Chinese army or navy worth the name. No student of af- fairs in the far east can doubt that it has long been the intention of Russia, Germany and France to dismember China for their own benefit at the first good opportunity. Japan watched the game long enough to see the rate that awaits China but q Ittle distance down the road-if Russia can have her way. And China once swallowed up, what was to protect Japan from the same fate except her own ability to defend herself in battle? Were Japan with out an army and navy today, she would be helpless before Russian encroach- ments and could expet nothing else but absorption by Russia and her allies.
 It is not to ke assumed, of course that were the United States without ;, navy and without coast defenses there would be any serious danger of Europ- can efforts to conquer us. But mere maintenance of territorial integrity does not meet the American spirit or fulfill American ambitions. American commercial interests now reach to every part of the globe and prosperity at home largely depends upon the pro- lection of these widespread business interests. It is to be deplored that there is still so much savagery and selfshness among men that it is neces- sary for q civilizen nation to follow the wise maxim adapted by MT. Roosevelt; Keep still tongue and carry a big stick" but not even Congressman But ton or Henry Loomis Nelson would presume to say that the American flag would be respected around the earth if it had not the protection of the army and the navy.
 By and by, of course, we shall reach point where it will be inadvisable ta add further to the number of our bat tleships and Cruisers-it will be folly maniiestly, to go on forever building these engines of destruction-but the people are not yet able to say that our navy is big enough.
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