The Washington herald., 1907-08-28
WEDNESDAY. AUGUST %. 1907.
An Era of Naval Expansion.

Secretary Taft. as spokesman OF the ad-
ministration, is telling Western audiences
that the President favors a large navy.
He might well have said a larger navy,
in spite of Mr.. Roosevelts assertion, IN
his last two annual messages, that the
navy was now Of ample size and eff
cheney. For It is becoming increasingly
evident that the country is about TO en-
ter upon a new era OF naval expansion,
which viii end only when our effective
sea power is beyond that OF any other
nation save England. Although the
President has not spoken, and Congress
has yet TO act, in favor OF any actual
programme Of naval expansion, Il IS safe
10 say that the programme. IL approved
by Congress and the administration, Will
be approved by the people also. The
navy has always been the most popular
arm Of the service. and, as somebody has
said, a democracy does not fear sea power
as ii does the menace Of q great stand
ing army stationed in the midst Of the
population 10 averawe and TO coerce.
The country has approved the recent in
crease in our naval power, and it will
doubtless sustain a still further enlarge
ment Of the navy. II convinced that 1t is
essential 10 the assertion Of a command
ing position in world politics. as we'll as
the maintenance Of our supremacy in the
western hemisphere.
-Four years ago the general board of
the navy sent to Congress a memoran-
dun expressing its opinion that the
United States navy, IN order to furnish
SUFFICIENT protection to oar coasts and
commerce, should comprise forty-eight
battle ships and twenty-four cruisers. to-
gether with the necessary Golfers. scouts.
supply ships. torpedo craft, and other
auxiliary vessels. Congress responded to
this memorandum by authorizing the con-
struction OF five battle ships. 1t is some
what singular that President Roosevelt
should have become convinced. only two
years later, that the limit of necessary
naval expansion had been reached. and
almost equally singular that within nine
months after advising Congress that he
would not ask for any Increase in naval
construction, he should have authorized
the transfer Of the entire battle-ship feet
TO the Paciic-a move logically involving
the creation Of an equivalent battle-ship
force for the protection OF the Atlantic
That the logic Of this move has not been
lost on members OF Congress is shown by
the declaration OF several members Of the
House Committee on Naval Affairs that
the construction OF two and perhaps four
battle ships Of the largest size-that is. OF
1000 10 5000 ton5-Will be authorized az
the coming session II we are to run a
race with Japan for naval superiority in
the Orient, no other course IS open to us
than the rapid expansion Of the navy ac-
cording 10 the plans Of the general
board, which contemplate the establish
ment OF fleets in both the Atlantic and
Pacific capable, acting singly. of defend
ing our coasts from any possible enemy
appearing in either ocean. An ambitious
scheme, but will Congress dare oppose it.
If assured by high authority that it is es-
sential 70 the national defense?
Congress, in fact, has very little to Go
with controlling the part we are playing
in world politics. which is determined by
the logic Of events as interpreted by the
Executive, or by what in the earlier DAYS
Of the republic was termed manifest
destiny" and in later years the call OF
Providence" OF ''the mission of civiliza-
tion," or some similar euphemism for ma
tional aggrandizement We are now told
that the Pacific Is TO become the "'theater
of great events in which we are called
upon 70 play a role commensurate with
our conception Of national dignity and
power. Il should not escape the attention
of the observant that this role will be
played by the Executive, with Congress
and the country as spectators. An un-
wise step allowed US to drift into the
Philippine adventure. Is a strong mar
now about to plunge US further into the
depths Of that unfortunate departure
from our national policy?