The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-12-04
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Continued from Page Seven.)
rom selfish indifference. or from senti-
nentality, 20 sacrifice national interests
rhch are vital in character. A just war
S In the long run far better for a ma
IONS soul than the most prosperous peace
obtained by acquiescence In wrong or In
justice. Moreover. tho It is criminal for
nition not TO prepare for war. so that IL
mar escape the dreadful consequences OF
being defeated I'm war, yet II must always
be remembered that even TO be defeat
tq than not 10 have fought at ALL
~ has been well and finely said. a beat
o nation is not necessarily a disgraced
rtion; but the nation or man is disgrace
d if the obligation TO defend right Is
hirked.
We should as a nation do everything In
VI power for the cause OF honorable
5eace. 1t is morally as indefenslble for
nation to commit wrong upon another
alton, strong and weak. as for an indi-
vidual thus 10 wrong his fellows. We
DO al I'm our power to hasten the day
when there shall be peace among the ma
tions-a peace based upon justice and not
lpor cowardy submission TO wrong. We
ran accomplish a good deal in this drec-
tion, but we can not accomplish every
thing, and the penalty OF attempting 10
detoo much would almost inevitably be
tdio worse than nothing: for IL must be
raembered that fantastic extremists are
NJ I'm reality leaders OF the causes which
tly espouse. hut are ordinarily those who
6,most TO hamper the real leaders OF the
sase and TO damage the cause itself. AS
y! there is no likelihood OF establishing
ay kind OF International power, OF what
ger sort, which can effectively check
rongdoing, and in these circumstances
would be both foolish and an evil thing
cr great and free nation TO deprive IT.
,elf OF the power 10 protect its own
rights and even in exceptional cases to
stand up for the rights OF others. Moth
In. would more promote iniquty. nothing
would further defer the reign upon earth
OF peace and righteousness, than for the
free and enlightened peoples which. tho
with much stumbling and many shortcom-
ings, nevertheless strive toward Justice.
deliberately 10 render themselves power
less While leaving every despotism and
bart a'ism armed and able TO work their
~icke will. The chance for the settle
mtnt OF disputes peacefully by arbltra-
iion how depends mainly upon the pos
eessiti by the nations that mean TO do
rightpf sufficient armed strength to make
their5urpose effective.
The Navy and Army.
TIL United States navy is the surest
gualntor OF peace which this country
uostsses. IL IL earnestly 90 be wisht that
wcsould profit by the teachings of his
tor In this matter A strong and wise
| petle will study It's own failures no less
thh its trumphs. for there Is wisdom to
beearned from the study OF both. OF the
intake as well as OF the success. For
th purpose nothing could be more in
Fulctive than rational study OF the
| WI OF 1912. as Il IL told, for instance, by
opt Mahan. There was only one way In
| vlch that war could have been avoided
during the preceding 12 years navy
rGtvely as strong that which this
| cnntry now has had been built up, and
army provided relatively good as
'at which the country now has, there
ever would have been the slightest ne
hssity Of fighting the war; and IL the
ecessity had arisen the war would under
uch circumstances have ended with our
peedy and overwhelming triumph. But
otir people during those IL years refused
10 make any preparations whatever. re.
Rarding either the army or the navy.
so doing: and I'm mere money paid a
hundredfold for each million they thus
saved during the three years of war which
followed-a war which brought untold
suffering upon our people. which at one
time threatened the gravest national dis
aster, and which. in spite OF the necessity
of waaing II, resulted merely In what
was in effect drawn battle, while the
balance OF defeat and triumph was almost
even.
I do not ask that we contirsle 10 in
crease our navy. | ask merely that IL be
maintained at its present strength; and
this can be done only II we replace the
obsolete and outworn 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 The old battle
shir Texas. for instance, would now be
Of little service in stand-up fight with
q powerful adversary. The old double
turret monitors have outworn their useful
ness Mile II was a waste OF money to
build the modern single-turret monitors.
MI these ships should be replaced by 9TH
els. and this can be done by well-set-
tel program OF providing for the building
sach year OF at least one first-class bat
teship equal In size and speed TO any
nat any nation is at the same time