The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-02-25

ALLAOr pAcAC u Inc NdkAtoA ~tA1g NAN
in the Red room a slow departing
twilight, penetrating with dificulty
heavy black masses Of tobacco smoke,
was the only illumination. No one had
cared to press the electric button.
Occasionally one Of dozen or more
glowing cigar ends seemed to awaken
from reverie to beam brightly for a
moment-then relapse again like the
eye Of a drowsy tiger There was no
sound In the room and scarcely : per
ceptsble movement save now and
then a finger decked the ashes away
or a hand removed weed from close
shut lips
For several minutes thus-then the
deep-yoiced cabinet secretary with
dignified deliberation, resumed, and
gentlemen, when all is said and done,
the entire situation may be briefly
summarized. AS the general has ex-
planned. they have encroached upon
our northern boundary until barrier
of armed men extends from the Paci-
fic to the Atlantic Our southern
boundary is a glittering line Of bayo-
nets from gulf to gulf II we drive
back regiment we retreat to our
lines before brigade.
"a corps. Mr.. Secretary, an entire
army corps" interposed the general.
And" continued the secretary.
their fleets protect their commerce
in every haYbor OF the world. For
every torpedo boat we possess they
have q cruiser, and for every destroy
er over whose decks our flag floats a
battleship fiannts their colors to the
breeze They have naval stations
within 80 hours Of our most seQues-
tered sea ports They have invested
our Great Lakes. Our insular possess
sions we have ceded to them, with
honor, indeed. but cannot say, gen
tlemen, without coercion-subtle.p per-
haps. but still coercion.
10 Toon, their prime minister. Is
exceedingly frank. 1t is not he says,
q matter Of conquest, but struggle
for existence. My people must have
breath-they are suffocating We
have our fisheries at the very south
pole. and every foot OF the bleak 81
berian steppes yields it's quota Of rice
or millet-nay, even though it needs
be rooted with glass to keep the earth
from strangllng In its frozen clutch
the sprouting seeds There is no area
In all the western hemisphere, from
ice-bound valleys Of northmost bays
and rivers to lofty snow-capped Cor
dillera in the south, save what is oc-
cupied by these United States Of
yours. but responds to the industry OF
my people. And you have room,
room. room. You are enccmpassed
You must see the inevitable This,
gentlemen. Is the situation. We are
encoEpassed. Our navy is helpless
our army but barely holds at bay the
hories upon our borders. Our lines
Of fortincations are problems which
cannot long remain unsolved The
time when statesmanship avaIled us
has long, long since gone by.
Gentlemen and the secretary i
voice was scarcely audible, Il fear,
greatly fear we are undone."
There was silence again and the
cigar ends glowed more iminously II
the deepening gloom An onyx clock
On the mantel over a closed fireplace
licked aggressiyely and the matoi
with which the secretary rellghted his
cigar sputtered noisily.
"Mr Secretary" The professor.
passionless voice sounded aFar on
but every eye, startled and new
lighted. turned toward him. The sec
retary responded;
'Professorl"
"Since Il appears. Mr.. Secretary.
he calmly continued, that this disas
ter which has been impending for s,
long Is about 70 fall upon and crusl
US. Since It Is evident from what yol
say that the defense Of our believes
country has passed beyond the pow
ers Of It's nEtural agencies. Since dir
lomacy and force OF arms are alik
hopeless. may not submit the propC
sition that the defense of our natiol
has entered the realms OF science an
as humble disciple Of truth volur
teer my services In Its behalf. /
must still be war most horrible
! most hellish war-and God aIon
knows how I hate it and shrink fror
, Il; but make the sacrifice gladly"
Il had forborn hoping. professor
and ] must still forbear." The seer,
tary breathed deeply.
The professor had arisen an
passed silently from the room and Ii
cigar ends CLEANED brightly In tn
direction Of the half open door.
10 Toon, the prime minister. sat I
state Courtiers in silken flowin
gowns paused in their goings to an
fro and clerks and scrIbes, low ber
At their writing, looked up expectan
". Lo Toon's face was expression
less as ever, but his eyes glittere
perhaps more than usual, ana ii
voice was over.sweet.
Why" he queried. have / n,
/, been informed Of this before