Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-02
FOR A STRONG NAVY
MR.. BoNAPARTE EXPRESSED HIS
VIEWS IN RECENT ADDRESS.
United States Should Be Ready for
War if It Should Come
Our Way.

Although man of peace, Secretary
Bonaparte is an enthusiastic advocate of a
strong navy In recent address on the
subject he said that for modern naval war
fare preparation must be the work of peace
we had in the southern confederacy
said he, IAN enemy without navy, hut it
is quite safe to say we shall not nave such
good fortune In our next great war; Or st
all events, it would be the height CT impru-
dence--would be but little less than a GRIM
mai folly to expect that and to act or to
fail to act on the assumption. We must
Keep our navy abreast of the tines-nlust
have 1t ready at any moment to do us APP
pointed work and do this well. Those who
think it can be made ready in a little while
and rest satisfied with this state of prepa-
ration assume the gravest responsibility.
Had the Monitor been ready twenty four
hours earlier the navy would have been
spared great saster; had she been ready
twenty-four hours later this might have
meant an UNNECESSARILY greater disaster
not merely to the navy, but to the country
and, indeed. to humanity.
week. even day, in these days of
ocean cables ard wireless telegTaphs and
iong-distance telephones and six-day liners
is worth, for purposes of warfare. a mon tn
in the days of our fathers-almost Il wear IN
those of our grandfathers. If you wish tie
navy W bc WIIdt II SIO1tl lie, me SAFE
guard and warrant of the country's secur-
ity and honor, you must hive Il navy pre-
pared Tor war at moments notice. and to
nave such navy We must Use and not
waste the days of peace to D:ake 1t thus
prepared
There is no use closing our eyes to the
fact that this means spending money, and
no little money. fhe expenses of the
navy viii grow as the navy grows
and we cannot have good thing
unless we are willing to pay for It. Neither
can we fix arbitrarily a certain sum and
say this shall not be exceeded; if we give
30 per cent of what the navy needs and
refuse 1T the Indispensable remaining 10
we are not economical, but fooIishly waste
iui' we throw away money if it does not
bring US return in effective service
believe with Washington that while
human nature and human society remain
what they are, war will be always possi-
Die ,and sometimes unavoidable, and that to
preserve peacewe should be and be known to
be ever ready, at a moments notice to
meet an appeal TO arms.
Must Be Ready for War.
Doubtless there are among us those who
profess to expect and, in part at least. have
even persuaded themselves into half ex-
pecting the millennium to dawn in our DAYS
These may be very worthy people. Some
OF them undoubtedly are but it is hardly
worth ones time and breath to discuss
40 not see things as they are. 1t may be
peasant to picture to ones mind
good land where omelets grow On
a nd roasted pigs run crying cut: Come eat me
IL You please
sui such reflections render it none the
Tess indispensable to have cook in the
hltchen and provisions in the larder
another class of people would take in
peace-time no heed for the national de-
tense, because, with the very little heed
we nave given 1t In the past we have al
ways managed somehow to pull through
III our Gays or stress and trial Such men
are about as sensible those who will not
Vacelnate their children because their
neutrality-suspicious. didn't have the small
poX; as those who will not repair their
piuinbing because no one in their home has
yet had typhoid fever; as those who will
not insure their houses because they have
not yet been burnt; as those who will not
ooho tiielr clerks because no one of these
has yet defaulted
10 trust to luck q safeguard against
terrible personal calamity in the face of
experience and common sense is perhaps
mere folly; but when the unheeded neriI
threatens the nations safety and honor the
happiness of our people and our usefuInese
to mankind this folly reaches the dignity
of a crime 7.'
Happily for our country such men are
rev. The American people knows its need
OF navy and of such a navy as sucu a
people should have. 1t is ready to nav
what must be paid TO get and keen one.
anu anu venture TO say emphaticaIly that an
enlightened and patriotic public opinion
VIII cheerfully and even gladly sustain the
leslsiatlVe branch of our government ~,
MAKING that liberal and far-seeJng nro,,i
s,oh ior the navy S needs and growth which
the navy expects with confidence