The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-01-31
& &tA show thos fIy sShame , imy e with the soi, sister servics vunfamaa. v0u

vantages. you
 the nation whic4. .A.ss ..aIIieu yvus wuton has given you a career in after life, a career in which. if you do your duty, you are sure to lead honorable lives and to deserve well of the republic; and a career in which there is always the chance that you may spring into one of those feat places to be opened by the means of the nation. win deathless fame for themselves by the way in which they serve the nation in the hour of the nations need. On the one hand, we have the right to expect a peculiar measure of self-sacrincing service from you. On the other hand, we have the right to expect from the representa- tives of the people peculiar care for your interests. It Is well that every public man should feel under a pecu- liar obligation to see the welfare of the army and the navy.
 "Many Baaeless Alarms"
 There are a good many baseless alarms which some worthy people feel from time to time in this country and which other less worthy people affect to feel but of all foolish crimes. of all baseless figments of disturbed imag- fnation, the cry of miIitarism in this country Is the most foolish and the most baseless. Not only there does not exist now, but there never has existed in recent times, any nation so wholly free as this is from any danger of ex- cessive militarism, so wholly free from any danger of an undue growth of the military spirit.
 The danger Is now, will be and al- ways has been the exact reverse. the danger is lest we do not take sufficient thought in preparing men and material with which we make our attitude in claiming to be a great nation respected. U would be sorry to see us content to assume the position of a nation unwill-. ing and unable to play a great part in tha world. unable to hold it's own in the shock of arms, should 1t be ever necessary, which I most earnestly hope that in the lifetime of no man hers present 1t will be necessary Should 1t ever be necessary. and I 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 we did not intend to rank our selves among the great powers of the earth. I should be sorry to, but I would a great deal rather see that than see us insist upon taking such a posi- ton and refuse to provide the means which would make such position oth- CT than a sham.
 If this country peASNSS III thS AloH- roe doctrine, if this country intends to hold the Philippines; if 1t intends. be- sides building. to police the isthmiaD canal: if it intends to do it's duty on the side of civilization. on the side of law and order. and that duty can be done only by the just man armed: if this country intends to be that. then it must see to it that 1t Is able to make good if the necessity arises to make good. It is idle to talk of our faith in the Monroe doctrine if we are not able to make that faith evil dent.
 Tt Is foolish to remain permanently in the Philippines unless we provide g base of military action for our fleets and army should 1t be necessary to de- fend the Philippines in time of war It is unnecessary to assert our posi- ton as entitled to the respect of other great nations unless we are willing to build the ships, to build the guns and to train the men who are to man the ships and handle the guns if the need arises. should be ashamed to see this nation play the part of Q weakling. But I would rather see 1t play that part frankly than see 1t boast what 1t was and then so handle itself that if any one questioned the the position we had assumed because we lacked the power to make our words good.
 'sNOt Second Best.s
 T earnestly hope that our foreign without reGard to change of adminis-