New-York tribune., 1906-05-03
BIG FIGHT OVER NAVY
BATFLE IN THE HOUSE.
Sea POsOer the Best Surety of Peace,
Says Mr. Butler.
TFrosn Tlas TrIouae r,ur4s,, /.

washington, May 2-'The Naval Appron~fa
arn bill carrying sss.7s4.2f6. win he laurc,o7
,-,TediateIy after the passage or fAa as-,,,,,.
raj bin. and the Republican leaders ara -
--ring for stormy voyage through The FFouso
rhairnan Foss OF the Committee on Naval as-
airs expects n navigate the nsasure safely sr4o
port but evidence is not lacking that a de-
sornined effort VIII be made 70 pare down 4bs
,ouropriations. The monster battleshlp promo
-Ition IS TO be subjected 10 attack from Demo-
r-ati. quarters. and many features OF The 40,
-rlH cause prolonged discussion In anticips-
gon Of the difficulties 70 be overcome II fba
MEASURE IS 70 be carried through intact. MEM
hers OF the Naval Committee in favor OF the
rrogramme as planned are preparing themselves
With unusual care TO meet all the objections that
may be raised against providing the money
needed 10 maintain the navy efficiently
one Of the features in the opening debate win
be carefully prepared address on the needs OF
q large navy. 20 be delivered by Representative
ru.ier. of Pennsylvania. a veteran member OF
fbe Naval Committee. Mr. Butler has delved
into the records OF past arbitration conferences.
ana VIII endeavor TO show that, while these con-
serences for the preservation OF peace have been
proauctive Of many good results they have in no
sense tended to limit the armament OF nations
n preparation for war. Instead OF cutting down
j
Hague. M Butler win produce figures to show
that the nations that participated have been
steadily increasing this branch OF the military
establishment This. therefore. is. in his Opin-
lon a most inopportune time for the United
States TO fail to keep abreast OF The world in
maintaining navy.
Peace the world over" said Mr.. Butler to-
day cannot be maintained without armaments,
because the world does not contain the same
people with the same speech. with the same
views upon the same subjects, entirely different
IN race, dssimilar IN appearance and with DIFF
seTing ideas OF civilization
Has Great Britain become the leading advo-
cate Of peace or has her great armament, con-
stantly increasing until IT is twice that OF any
other two nations. put the balance Of the world
IN fear of her? Does her complete preparation
keep her from harm? Her statesmen contend
for this conclusion. The annals seem 20 justify
Il Nations moan under the load Of great
armies and fast multiplying fleets. yet they are
afraid 10 reduce them. Let them continue 20
add 10 their burdens until they decide it 70 be
cheaper TO talk than to fight, then they will
consent TO shift their accounts so that they may
balance II all the nations agree 70 submit an
their disputes to an international council for
arbitration and settlement. can they all disarm? +?
How can the DEGREES Of the council be enforced? +?
We cannot SeLLtS al 0luerenceS Dy means OF
arbitration. for the one reason that all the ma
tions insist that all disputes affecting their
autonomy or their independence shall be except
ed. The power OF different states 70 give each
70 itself its own law VIII always remain in the
state Nearly all our wars have been fought to
obtain independence Of government No patriot
viii consent TO the sacrifice which such sur
render involves. ] believe that the world has
decided that the only real advantage obtained
through The Hague conference was to minimize
the horrors attending war. Can Il be expected
that any OF The nations participating in this
conference should proceed TO arrest its arma-
nlents when al the other nations are contrib
utinE 10 increase them2
i believe the great armamentS and the fear
which the nations possessing them have Of one
another have secured US at least partial armed
peace We would not have fought the Spanish
American War had we been fully and thoroughly
prepared Three more battleships on this coast
where the Spanish could have seen them. and
they would have kept the thin skinned ships at
home. and we would have our gTaveyards yet
10 I'll and our money to spend We should con-
tinue arm. that battles may be delayed. The
fear ri awful slaughter and the enormous cost
attending hostile attack with the uncertainty Of
result viii encourage unwilingness to fight, and
prolong discussion. make war expensive and
mans sel1shness viii avert IL rather than pro-
woke Il"