The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1906-09-07
the NAVY
AND THE GREATN ESS
Of THE UNITED
STATES.

After reviewing the fleet last Mon.
day the President, according to the
dispatches, threw his arms around
group OF Senator'S and Representa-.
lives and observed:
Any man who fails to be patriot.
cal.y inspired by such sight rs THIS
is mig hty poor Americans; and every
American who has seen 1t ought TO De
a better American for it.
This is the language Of impulsive-
ness blended with the admiration
which the strong man armed teels tor
the most destructive engines Of naval
warfare. The big guns and the tor
pe,io tubes thrill Mr.. Roosevelt might
lily. Only the poorest sort of Ameri.
cana weak, timid, pusillanimous
creature-would not be thrilled to the
very core on seeing what science and
mechanics can do in the way OF per.
fecting instruments for the slaughter
of Uncle Sans enemies, if there be
any.
There are probably millions OF
Americans who are just as patriotic,
in quiet but none the less sincere
fashion, as President Roosevelt. They
are proud of the navy as part of our
national defense machinery aid equip.
ment. They have entire faith in the
skill OF our naval officers and the
courage OF the seamen. In any future
emergency they would rely upon the
navy to make good as it has always
made good in the past--to main tain
the best traditions Of the service that
las sSperb achievements to its credit
from the time OF Paul Jones down to
Dewy and Smiley. But these millions
OF sober minded America hs find more
to thrill them in other phrases OF
American civilization and accomplish
ment than in The fleets which their
money has built-admirable as these
fleets are for the purposes for which
they are desig ned-purposes tor which,
it is hoped, they may never be called
into action.
The American patriot has a great
many thrills coming to him, and not
one of them is dependent either upon
big army or formidable navy. Our
fighting equlpm' Mt. in truth, consti'
tutes our smallest claim to greatness.
Ii the President had been reviewing,
for example, the many millions Of pu
pills in the public and private schools
OF the United States, he would have
seen spectacle infinitely srande:'and
more suggestive than all the warships
that could be assembled in Long Is.
land Sound. The American army OF
boys and girls who are being educat-
ed to be useful men and women is
without parallel in Europe. This is
one of the manifestations of patriotism
in the United States which is more
thrilling than commendable submis.
sion to taxation to build warships and
maintain fleets in commission. More
over, the future of he United S ates
depends to much greater degree
upon the development OF the youth Of
this country into earnest, efficient
thoughtful men and women than i,
does upon the maintenance OF tremen-
deus ornaments on land and Sea. II
the people degenerate, fleets and arm
les will not save them. Ii they pre-.
serve the hest characteristics of A ner.
icanism-ii they are sturdy in ch:trac
ter as veil as in body. il natural lr,el.
ligrhce is strengthened 10y education
they will be able To take care OF them
selves whatever dangers may aris' {.
Hence the American patriot who doe.
not put military and naval strength
above civic virtues, who believes that
the ate is not p-rsonified SO much
and so we'll by its sod,ers and sailors
as bv the integrity. industry, inte.ll
gence and sturilnrss III it's cl, .Z..ns, il
more inspired by Whit is being don.
to elevate the standard and irnurov,
the quality of e. nship tia b, /, +
obstruction of instruments of war.
If the President had REVIVED las
Monday the great Amy "t organ d
and X He'd labor which has given the
United ates the manufacturing su
premacy of the world, he 'uId hav.
seen a host which c.,n.r bnt-s moe TO
the true glory and the listing welfare
and prosperity of this MAJ o. thar
fleets and armies arr ever likely to tlu
The American patriot. the a mrrca
who low, 8 his cnun'r, ~ Il - proud ri
its progress al, H.. II lines finds ~
much to Thrill hun IN 'he sight ul
great ocean liner leaving bort to. car.