The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-12-05

vey O. s0Ln A.geesctu -s.i taDas.-z
commits ioners in 1891. amounted TO
100000. has now been reduced to
about 10000. This result has beer
brought about hy Canadian and some
1tler seating YES sells killing tie female
,eaIS wife In the water during II III
annual pilgrimage 10 and from tht
south or In search Of food.
The process of destruction has been
accelerated during receat years by the
appear nee OF n number of japanese
vessel engaged IN peie- gle sealing
Suitable representations regarding
the Incident have been made to the
government OF Japan. and we are as
sured that all practicable measures will
be taken by that country 10 prevent
any recurrence Of the outrage.
We have not relaxed our Efforts TO
secure an agreement with Great Brit
ain for adequate protection Of the seal
herd. and negotiations with Japan for
the same purpose are In progress.
The laws for the protection OF the
seals within the jurisdiction OF the
United States need revision and
amendment.
Second Hague Conference.
In my last message | advised you
that the emperor of Russia had taken
the initiative in bringing about sec
ond peace conference at The Hague.
Under the guidance OF Russia the ar
rangement of the preliminaries for
such a conference has been progressing
during the past year. Progress has
necessarily been slow. owing to the
great number of countries to be con
suited upon every question that has
arisen. 1t is a matter of satisfaction
that all of the American republics have
now. for the first time. been invited to
join in the proposed conference.
Army and Navy.
It must ever be kept in mind that
war Is not merely justifiable. but i'm
perative upon honorable men, upon an
honorable nation, where peace can
only be obtained by the sacrifice of
conscientious conviction or of national
welfare.
The United States navy is the surest
guarantor of peace which this country
possesses. | do not ask that we con
tinue to increase our navy. l ask
merely that it be maintained at its
present strength, and this can be done
only If we replace the obsolete and out
worn ships by new and good ones, the
equals of any afioat in any navy. To
stop building ships for one year means
that for that year the navy goes back
instead of forward
In both the army and the navy there
is urgent need that everything possible
should be done TO maintain the highest
standard for the personnel alike as re-
/ do not believe that in any service
there is a finer body of enlisted men
and of junior officers than we have inr
both the army and the navy, including
the marine corps.
West Point and Annapolis already
turn out excellent officers. We do not
need to have these schools made more
scholastic. On the contrary, we should
never lose sight of the fact that the
aim of each school is to turn out
man who shall be above everythin;
else fighting man.
There should soon be an increase il
the number of men for our coast de-
lenses. These men should be of the
right type and properly trained. and
there should therefore be an increase
OF pay for certain skilled grades. espe-
cially in the coast artillery. Money
should be appropriated to permit troops
to be massed in body and exercised in
maneuvers. particularly In marching.