The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1905-02-24
WAR anp CIVILIZATION.

more persistent Is the cry for the
Requirements ard ornaments OF
war
Speaking. no. from the standpoint
OF religion, but from the standpoint
OF craftsmanship. from his place in
the house of representatives, Mr.
Bourke Cochran, the most pleasing
the most entertaining and perhaps
the most eloquent and profound mem
Der OF that body, recently asked the
question. Why has il become neces-
sary in recent years 20 double, treble
and quadrupIe our expenses for Mill
tary and naval purposes?'-
This distinguished gentleman said
that it vas extraordinary that such a
measure should be submitted to
the American congress, and still
more extraordinary that its outcome
should be doubtful
Mr.. Cochran then coUcrasted the
address Of Napoleon BOnaparte 70
the army OF Italy when he took COM
rnand OF it al Milan in 1896. with the
address George Washington issued 10
the American people when he was
about to retire from public life the
same wear. One breathes the impe-
realistic spirit that the strength of
a nation depends on its military ar
maments; that greatness can only be
achieved by force, and prosperity by
conquest The other proclaimed the
sublimer doctrine that the nation is
strongest which depends on justice;
that the tr'le source of prosperity is
not in conquest, but in peaceful in
dust-y; not in despoiling other ma
tions, but in developing our own soil
by the labor and virtue OF our citi
zens
Suppose that this doctrine was he
icaIly proclaimed by every Ameri-
can statesman, by every American
editor and from every American pull
Dit in the land, who believes that III
the year Of grace nineteen hundred
and five, that this great civilized and
Christianized government would pre-
sent the spectacle OF military en-
campment, and al every session Of
every legislature OF every state in the
union and of the congress OF the Uni
ted States, there would be a cry for
larger military appropriations?
When asked the question by Con-
gresham Brick, OF Indiana, Listen
ing to what the gentleman has said,
do | understand from his remarks
that he does not beIive III d navy at
all? Does he believe that we should
go unarned in this country? That
we could do so and maintain our
selves in the wcr.G?''
In replying. Mr.. Cochran made this
answer:
Mr.. Chairman. / believe that the
naval equipment which this country
has maintained in the past, which
was merely the nucleus of a naval
establishment, is ali that we could
ever need. I believe the mainten-
ance OF huge fleet of battleships and
cruisers and transports would be All
act of folly, if it were not An act al
ST of crime. Applause on the
democratic side.
The true strength of a country de-
ponds not on its fortresses, whether
afioat or ashore, but upon the men
| who would rally to the defense of the
flag whenever the integrity of our
soil was menaced or our national dig
/ nifty imperiled. The armament which
We maintained prior to 1895 is the
| largest armament that | think this
country would ever need in time of
peace"
Two hundred millions of dollars is
the annual appropriation asked for
| by the congress of the United States
for naval purposes alone. Speaking
. of this amount Mr.. Cochran, in his
wonderful speech, said: