Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-10-04

else tnat Is bad IN our national life,
but II would be even more foolish to
! ignore the Vaster forces that tell for
Righteousness. Friends, there is every
reason why we should fight whatever
/ is evil in the present. But there is
also every reason why we should feel
a sturdy and confident hope for the
J Ifuture. There are many wrongs to
right. there are many and powerful
wr0ngdoers against whom to war: and
| II would be base to shrink from the
contest or TO fail to wage II with a
high. resolute will. But l am sure
that we shall win in the contest be-
cause / know that the heart of our
people is sound. Our average men
and women are good men and women
and this is true In all sections of our
country and among all classes of our
countrymen. There is no other ma
tion on earth with such vast natural
resources, or with such a high stand
ard of living and of industrial eff
cheney among its workers. We have
as nation an era of uneXampled
prosperity ahead of us; we shall en-
joy it, and our children will enjov 1t
after us. The trend of Well-being in
this country is upward, not down
ward: and this is the trend in the
things of the soul as well as In the
things of the body.
Government in its application is Of
ten a complicated and delicate work,
but the principles of government are,
after ALL fairly simple In broad,
general way we should apply in the
affairs of the national administration,
which deals with the interests of all
our eighty-odd millions of people just
the same rules that are necessary in
getting on with our neighbors in our
several neighborhoods; and the nation
as a whole would show substantially
the same qualities that we would ex-
pect an honorable man to show in
dealing with his fellows. TO illus
trate this, consider for a momen two
phases of government action.
The Need of Fighting strength.
First as to international affairs
Among your own neighbors, among
your friends, what Is the attitude you
like to see a man take toward his fell
lows. the attitude YOU wish each of
your sons to take when he goes out
into the world? Is it not a combina-
ton % readiness and ability to hold
his own if anyone tries 10 wrong him,
while at the same time showing care
full regard not only for tne rights but
foc the feelings of others? or course
II isl OF course the type of man
whom we respect, whom we are
proud of If he is a kinsman. whom
we are glad to have as a friend and
neighbor is the man who is no milk
sop, who is not afraid, who will not
tolerate nor hesitate TO resent insult
or injury. but who himself never in
iicts insult or injury Is kindly. good
natured, thoughtful of others rights
i'm short good man to do business
with or have live i'm the next house
or have as a friend. on the other
hand. the man who lacks any Of those
qualities is sure to be Objectionable
If a man Is afraid to hold his own
If he will submit tamely to wrongdo-
ing. he is contemplate. If he is a
bully, an oppressor. "a man who
wrongs or insults others, he is even
worse and should be hunted out Of
the community. But, on the whole,
the most contemplate position that
can possibly be assumed by any man
is that of clustering, or Dragging, Of
insulting or wronging other people
while vet expecting to 20 through
life unchallenged. and being always
willing to back down and accept hui
initiation If readiness to make good is
demanded.
Well all this Is just as true of a
nation as OF an Individual. ana In deal
ing with other nations we should act
as we expect man who Is both game
and decent to act in private life.
There are few things cheaper and
more Objectionable. whether on the
part of the public man or of the pri-
Vate man, on the part of a writer or
of a speaker, an individual or a group
OF individuals, than course of con-
duct which is insulting or hurtful.
whether in speech or act. to individ-
uals of another nation or to the repre-
sentatives of another nation or TO an
other nation itself. But the policy be-
comes infamous from the standpoint
Of the interests of the United States
when IL Is combined with the refusal
to take those measures of preparation
which can alone secure us from ag-
gression on the part of others. The
policy of peace with insult" Is the |
very worst policy upon which 1t Is !
possible TO embark. whether for a ma
tion or an individual. To be rich. un-
armed. and yet insolent and aggres- |
sive. is to court well-nigh certain dis |
aster. The only safe and honorable |
rule Of foreign policy for the United |
States Is TO show itself courteous to- |
ward other nations, scrupulous not TO |
infringe upon their rights, and yet |
able and ready 10 defend its own. This /
nation is now on terms Of the most |
cordial good VIII with all other ma |
tions. Let US make IL "A prime OBJ
ject Of our policy to preserve these
conditions To do so IL is necessary |
on the one hand to mete out a gen /
erous justice TO all other peoples and i
show them courtesy and respect; and |
on the other hand as we are yet a /
good way Off from the millennium. to /
keep ourselves in such shape as To |
make 10 evident 10 all men that we /
desire peace because we think u Is /
Just and right and not from motives l
of weakness or timidity. As for the :
first requisite, this means that no only /
the government. but the people as /
whole shall act in the needed spirit. /
for otherwise the folly OF "a few. in 1
dividuals may work lasting discredit 4
TO the whole nation. The second ]
requisite Is more easily secured-let /
US build an and maintain at the 4
highest point Of efficiency the United 4
states navy. Ia any great war on
land we should have 10 rely In the fu-
ture. as we have relied in the past.
chiefly upon our volunteer soldiers:
and although IL is indispensable that 4
our little army. an army ludicrousiy
small relative 10 the wealth and pop 4
uiation Of this mighty nation, should
Itself be trained 10 the highest point
and should be- valued and respected as I
is demanded by the worth of the Of
nccrs and enlisted men. yet ID Is not
necessary that this army should be a.
large as COMPARED 90 the armies Of
other great nations. But as regards
the navy an this Is different. We
have an enormous coast lire, ana our
coast line is on two great oceans. To
reneI hostile attacks the fOriifications.
and not the navy. must be- used; but
the host way fn marry o. 90 hit-mo