Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-03

guns SnOulO De mounted. But ulu IL Hot
occur to the Secretary that the real and
far more important lesson was a very
different one? Only recall the circum-
stances under which that incident took
place. Great Britain, engaged in boun-
dairy dispute with Venezuela, urged her
contention with characteristic positiveness.
The President of the United States stepped
In and ubstantially said to Great Britain
stop. You will not be permitted to impose
your will upon the little American republic
by main strength without word from this
republic. This matter will have to be ar
bitrated
Great Britain, the mistress of the seas, by
far the greatest naval power Of the world.
proud and touchy, with tory government
supposed to be the special champion of that
pride, was certainly not used to that sort
of treatment. She probably knew, too, that
we had only one gun mounted on coast
several hundred miles long. No wonder
that good many people expected the Brit
ish lion to break out in warlike roar
But what did Great Britain do? The Brit
ish tory government took President Cleve-
lands remonstrance into respectful consid-
Grafton, and with graceful kindness assent
ed to the arbitration asked for.
Now, what is the lesson of this? Not that
we need big armies and navies for the de-
tense of our rights and the enforcement
of our just demands, but that, whether we
are armed or unarmed, every European
power, even the greatest and proudest will
go to the very extreme of possible conces-
sion to avoid a serious quarrel with this
republic.
Armed Forces Unnecessary.
Our absolute safety from foreign aggres-
sion, as every reasonable person will admit,
being thus assured, I may ask my sober
minded countrymen, for what purpose large
armies and big navies-the characteristic
tool and favorite ornament of empire-may
be wanted by us. Being entirely unneces-
sary for defense, is the greatest navy in the
world, or any big navy, the cost of con-
struction and maintenance Of which will
run into the hundreds of millions, needed
or intended for any other purpose? If not,
then the building and maintenance thereof
is wanton waste of the peoples money
wicked and objectionable. But If it is de-
signed for any other purpose, what Is
that purpose? The world abroad will but
too probably see in it a design of aggressive
movements on our part. This would have
a most unfortunate effect. Whether we en-
tertain such plans or not-and am conf
dent a large majority of the American peo-
pie do not entertain them-the world will
always be distrustful of our professions of
a peaceable disposition. However smooth
our speech may be in favor of peace con-
crosses and arbitration courts, the world
will see in the building of large navtes, ut
terly unnecessary for defense, a threat Of
armed aggression-a transformation Of the
old republican peace power into an empire
preparing for war. The inevitable result
will be an additional element Of appre-
neHSloH ana uisquiel oiiiioH6 Aeh'ioi';
Should we not devote our material as
well as mental resources to the building up
Of our great country, which is capable of
infinitely greater development than 1t has
so far attained, and to the solution of the
political and social problems which surge
upon us? Should We not cultivate peace
and friendship with all nations, scrupulous-
ly respecting their rights, as well as their
legitimate feelings, spreading our COM
merce all over the world, not at the can
mons mouth, but by intelligent and indus
trious striving for superiority in friendly
competition as to the quality and proper
tionate price of our goods? By SO doing
we should present to the world the inspir-
ing example of a truly free people, peacea-
BILE and orderly, self-respecting and happy
in their freedom and prosperity.
Such an example will do infinitely more
to advance our own welfare as well as the
peace and civilization Of mankind, than any
number of battle ships and all the splendor
of imperial power.