The Saint Paul globe., 1905-01-31

ANNAPOLIS, Md, Jan. 30.-Before
a host of their friends and relatives
the ia members of the first class at
the naval academy today completed
their four-year course and received
their diplomas at the hands of Presi-
dent Roosevelt. The president was in
trodueed by Capt. Brownson, the COM
mandant Addressing the class as
fellow midshipmen,' the president
said that of all the "baseless alarms"
in the country, the cry about militarism
was the most foolish and most base
less. mo nation Is as free from the
danger of growth of militarism as
are we," he said. 1.-The danger is lest
we do not take sufficient thought to
prepare our men and material" He
went on:
Should it ever be necessary, and hope
1t will not be, to appeal to arms, should
be sorry to see US take the position of
avowed weakness, take the position that
among the great powers of the earth.
But l would great deal rather see that
than see us insist upon taking such
position and refuse to provide the means
which would make such a position other
than sham. If this country believes in
the Monroe doctrine; if it intends to hold
the Philippines; If it intends, besides
building, to police the isthmian canal; II
1T intends to do its duty on the side of
civilization, law and order, and that duty
can be done only by the just man armed;
: If this country intends to be that, then 1t
must see to 1t that it is able to make
good, If the necessity. arises to make
good. 1t is idle to talk of our faith in
the Monroe doctrine If we are not able to
make that faith evident. 1t is foolishs to
remain permanently in the Philippines un
less We provide a base of military action
for our fleets and army should it be
necessary to defend the Philippines in
time of war.
shall be continued absolutely without re-
gard to change of administration, to
change of party, along the lines of treat
Of aYeng
war, for trouble of any kind, of taking
every step possible to minimize the chance
of trouble, occurring; and at the same
time of taking every step possible to see
TO it that if by any chance trouble does
occur, we do not come out second best.
Arbitration Treaties
l have proceeded upon the assumption
that this nation was sincere when it said
that it desired peace, that all proper steps
to provide against the likelihood of war
ought to be taken up and these arbitra-
ton treaties ,d represent precisely these
by themselves would not bring peace. We
are a good many years short of the
millennium yet; and for the present and
the immediate future we can rest as
sured that the word of the man who is
suspected of desiring peace because he
is afraid of war will count for but little.
What we desire is to have it evident that
this nation seeks peace. not because it
is afraid, but because it believes in the
eternal and immutable laws of justice
hand with the negotiation of treaties OF
that character, hand in hand with the ef-
fort to put our foreign. relations with
every nation on a better footing, must &C
the steady upbuilding of the army and
navy; above all the navy, so that our ma
tional honor may be sure of an adequate
safeguard should our national honor evel
be actively nlenaced.
He talked to the members of the
class, reminding them that one of theil
great duties was ito see that your sho,
hits" The president then presented
to the seven successful middies the
sword and medals won for proficiency
in theoretical and practical gunnery.