Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1906-12-12
Editorial Opinion
Bryan Talks Nonsense.


N. Y. Herald.
Mr.. Roosevelt is quite right in his
declaration that strong navy is the
surest guarantee Of peace, and for his
consistent support of the naval service
he deserves the commentator Of the
country. Mr. Bryan's reference TO the
navy as an instrument OF brute force
is. on the other hand, arrant nonsense.
The President will probably lose no
sleep over the personal aspersions I'm
this attack, for he Is i'm most excellent
company Like Washington, he has
urged with sa'neness and foresight. the
necessity of creating and maintaining
an effective fleet both as a means Of win
dicating the nationality Of the nag and
Of insuring the preservation Of peace
From the beginning the navy has had
a deep hold on the affections Of the peo-
pie as the defender Of the Common
wealth. Now that the United States
has become a world power. with possess
sions in distant seas, a strong fleet is
more than ever necessary to protect our
interests, prevent aggressive action by
other Powers and thus insure peace.
Wi tthhis extension Of our RESPONSE
bilities the old doctrine of American
isolation crambles into dust. The an
nexation Of the Philippines and our
great commercial interests in China
have brought us into closer physical
relations with Asia: Asiatic nations
have become European countries, ana
we cannot escape the duty of taking
cognizance Of the foreign combinations
and policies in those regions.
The present furry with Japan will
have no serious outcome but IL must
serve as a reminder that we can never
tell in what quarter friction may arise.
We must, in the interests of self-pres-
ervation, be ready for the unforeseen
and the dangerous, and therefore a
powerful fleet is needed to defend not
only the Philippines. but our possess
our own littorals should be safeguard
ed from oversee attack.
As a beginning we should build not
one battle ship Dreadnought. but sew
eral Dreadnoughts every year. Tor
these great energies constitute the
cheapest and most effective insurance
against war. The advantages inherent
in these constructions make them in
the last analysis the most economical
types to build. inasmuch as they can
for the same number OF dollars ex-
pended infiot greater destruction on
the enemy than can the smaller vessels.
This fruitful energy is due to the
associations OF higher gun power. am-
pier armor protection. superior speed
and increased capacity, for carrying
Ammunition, coal and general stores.
Concentrated thus in one displacement.
these and other elements OF attack and
defense furnish tactical and strategical
advantages unrealizable 20 the same
degree in the powerful but more limited
ships.
It is Mr.. Roosevelt's advocacy Of an
efficient sea force in which these units
should form the main fighting line
that Mr.. Bryan derides and for which
he invokes "shme" upon the Presi-
dent. A nations sense OF justice. 10
which he appeals as the supreme re-
lance. should, Of course. always be one
of the potent guarantees OF peace and
good will. But let Il be asked: What
Is the value even OF such a noble
identity II a country lacks power 10
enforce its theories OF right and fair
dealing. notably when these are as
saulted by a superior power? No, Mr.
Roosevelt rs entirely Wight ana Mr..
Bryan In his TRADE is surely talking
arrant and mischievous nonsense.