The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-04-21
CHICAGO PLATFORM

i CHlCAGO PLAIFUkM
And It's Democratih Principles Is the EN-.
bodiment of Rear Admiral Melville
Speech. Says Abandon Every
Distant Possession that
Requires Fleet.
In remarkable address before the
American Academy of Social and Po-
litical Science at Philadelphia Rear
Admiral Melville, retired, declared
that the first step toward increasing
the etlicierc cy of the American navy
should be the preparation of plans
for the Immediate abandonment, a.
the slightest possible financial loss, of
every distant pos session that Is likely
to require fleet to defend It,"
Admiral Melville Is one of the fore
most experts I'm naval engineering In
the world. For number of years,
aud even after he had reached the re-
tirement age, he served as engineer in
chief OF the American navy. He is a
man OF widest experience and deep in
formation on all naval matters He
Is one of the men who has done most
toward the upbuilding of the new
American navy.
In bis Philadelphia address Admiral
Melville emphasized the grave rcspon-
sibilities resting upon this nation by
its three irhsritancas," the Philip
pines, the Panama canal and the ad-
min1stration Of the finances Of bank
rupt nations, each OF which he de-
clared Is likely to prove a Pandora's
box OF evils and disappointments. {"
his address has made profound SEN
sation.
| COST OF ARMY AND NAVY.
Admiral Melville spoke in part as
follows:
Probably study of our own army
Will best tell OF the expense connected
With the maintenance OF an existing
military establishment. Even In
peace time, the expenses Of maintain
ing each soldier OF our army has
reached the sum of 81, 800 per annum.
II anything, the navy is a more
expensive institute ~ to maintain than
the army. Dividing the total naval
expenditure by the number OF men In
The organization, We find that 1t is
now costing the government about
80, 600 annually for the support of
each sailor.
The battleshipS that oan draw ups
on the resources Of completely
equipped manufacturing and military
base Is at an enormous advantage as
compared with a similar vessel that
attempts to be, In great part, self
supporting. When the United States
declared war against Spain the naval
strength OF the two powers was about
the same, SO far as graphic charts and
official statistics could show.
The public at large, as we'll as the
congress, now recognizes the fact that
the defense OF the United States must
primarily be intrusted to the navy.
Unless possible foe had some hope of
securing command ot the sea sg linst
the strongest opposing fleet that we
could assemble, no nation would un-
dertake the task OF fitting out pcs
iible armada to attempt either the
blockade or the invasion of our coast.
From hencefurth we cannot eyad.
the ponsibility that attends our DO
sirion as great industrial nation
seeking fair portion OF the trade O,
the world. AS we have takol it unto
ourselves to assert doctrines that al
feet others, there will come occasion
when our military and naval strength,
rather than the righteousness OF our
cause, may be the only factor that
Will cause ether nations 10 accept our
Interpretation OF policies that concern
them as we'll as ourselves.
THREE COSTLY INHERITANCEs.
During the past eight years there
have been three inherit noes that we
have acquired, each of which Is likely
10 prove Pandora's box Of evils and
appointments TO this nLticn. s.
long as the responsibility OF altniuii
tering these three inheritances re-
malned with US, so lOcg there will be
a pros ressive increase in military ans
naval expenditures, aud so long viii
II be necessary for us to weigh well
the important clements Of naval con
flicts.
The first inheritance that was
the Philippine archipe lago. Tncsc /.
lands have been a Lax upon tie re-
sources OF every ration that ever pcs
sesSed them.
1t may be pertinent to call to mind
That when Fr.ncc seizad Formosa, In
1888, the European press OF China
ana Japan gave STUDIED effort to
showing how closely connected were
the islands OF Japan, Formosa and the
philippines, and that it was but tn,
des my OF events tiiat this Chain OF
islands shnuld some day be under -
single controlling power.
The second Inheritance that either
assumed or was bequratued to us by
p ilitlcal necessity was the OBLIGATION
to build the Panama canal. We are
gradually awakening to a realization
that In guaranteeing con- pletion o.
This work we took an information. Il
burden upon ourselves, whether this
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