Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1905-03-30


senator Lodge IN his recent speech
on the navy and our foreign policy
made two remarks which have been
criticised The first was: The Philip
pines do moi weigh with me in advocat-
in- strong navy, ! do not think their
possession alters in any degree the
amount OF navy that is required
The second. remark was: but what
does weigh With me is the fact that the
markets of'the east are of great i'm
pOrtance TO this country and Of ever
growing Importance in the trade com,
petition of the world We must have
our share Of those markets. For that
purpose the integrity Of China is an
essential and cardinal point in the
policy OF tho United States
Eath of these observations cross the
current of unthihking opinions but
both are right. Ia both Senator Lodge
shows himself the careful student and
the sound thinker II is a superficial
and unrefiecting hut common view
TIE Philippines compels larger navy
than we would require without them.
Tie theory is that their distance and
exposed position would make them the
easy prey Of an enemy in war and that
a large navy is necessary for their de
fcnsc
The defect of this theory is that it
lrracates the inevitable loss of the
Philippines on their possible temporary
oI urIt ton. If we were engaged in war
they might or might not be occupied by
the enemy The enemy might or might
not have more naval power at that
point Than we had In the end 1t would
make no difference The result as to
the Philippines would depend on the
general result Of the war TO secure
and hold those islands the enemy would
have 10 whip us in our own immediate
waters and on our own ground IN
The war with Spain we occupied only
Manila. We came into possession of
the whole archipelago because we com
pletely defeated Spain and were able
10 dictate our own terms.
Senator Lodge IS equally right in
what he says as to China \ passive
policy would hold the Philippines.
Only an active policy will maintain
what we want in China. 1t was only
the active policy of 1900 with what
just preceded and what followed that
gave us our footing there. We want a
full equal commercial opportunity in
the great markets of the east. The
open door and al integral China are
vital 10 It The partition of China.
With its several segments falling under
the exclusive control of rival CONNER
cial powers. would shut us out. Hence
the integrity of China is IAN essential
aud cardinal point in the policy of the
United States" and Senator Lodge is
absolutely right when lie says SO.
Senator Lodges critics misconceiye
both him and the policy. Their mis-
take lies in supposing that the policy
requires us to fight for the integrity of
China and that he associates it with
strong navy in order to be prepared TO
fight for 1t. That does not follow. We
had to fight for the rescue of our i'm
periIe0 minister but for nothing more.
We saved China by moral power, bur
LhGt power was effective because there
was material power behind it. What
we have yet to do will be wrought by
the moral power of the great republic,
but that power will be all the greater
with the visible evidence of an ade-
qunte navy in eastern waters.
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