The Washington herald., 1907-07-07
Iingolsm and National Passions.


Evidences multiply that the administra-
tion committed a serious blunder by de-
nying and then equivocally confirming the
sensational report that practically the en-
tire American navy is to be transferred
from the Atlantic TO the Pacific. As a nat
ural consequence. the press Of the country
is teeming with conjecture and specula-
ton as to the real significance of the new
naval policy which, it now seems certain,
has been recommended by the general
board of the navy, approved by the fierce
sea-dog at the head Of the department, and
apparently scquiesced in by the winner of
the Nobel Prize. All this conjecture and
speculation, however, points IN one direc-
ton. If the President had sought TO focus
the attention of the nation upon the pos
sibility of war in the Orient, he could not
have chosen a better way than endeayor-
ing 10 envelop a momentous change OF
national policy In a maze of contradictions
and foolish pronunciamentos No one in
his senses will believe for a moment that
a fleet of sixteen battle ships would be or
dered TO any part Of the globe simply as
a matter of routine in the management
and drill Of the navy" or that such a
formidable squadron would be got under
way TO the Orient simply to give the gap
ing Californians something TO look at
Whatever is behind all this momentous
business. the people are entitled 10 know
the worst. 1t will not do to try feeding
them on chaff
But If the American people are puzzled |
by this official tergiveTsatiOn about a pro-
posed plan to revolutionize American |
naval policy and are startled by the sud |
den precipitation into popular discussion /
of the weighty question Of war or peace, |
what shall We surmise as TO the state Of
mind Of the japanese, with whom we are /
officially alleged TO be on friendlier terms |
than ever before? What shall we con |
ceive to be the thoughts Of the members |
Of the japanese government when they /
hear that the American press, which has |
proved TO be better informed than Loeb /
and Newberry, aboUnds with assertions 4
that an American fleet is TO be stationed /
in the Pacific for the purpose Of establish |
ing our naval. predominance in that re- /
gion, to overawe Japan. 10 defend the /
Philippines from japanese aggression. 10 /
insure peace between the United states /
and Japan, and 10 prevent that country 1
from going 70 war with US? We hear il 4
fiippantly said that the disposition OF our 1
fleet in the Pacific is no concern Of ia /
pans; but suppose the shoe were on the |
other foot-that Japan intended TO conCen- |
trate her entire available fleet in the
neighborhood Of Formosa, or to brace up
her fleet efficiency by a practice cruise" /
to Hawaii? Suppose that Germany should /
contemplate sending all her battle ships TO |
the Caribbean. that the unofficial infor-
nation Of that purpose should be accom- /
panied by official denials and tentative /
admissions, and that the inspired press |
should be full Of declarations Of the gov /
ernments purpose to protect German in |
terests. 10 avert war. and 10 give the /
American people an object lesson in Ger /
man naval strength? How long. in such /
a contingency, would it take to haul out /
the Monroe doctrine and set the lingo
chorus to howlng on that tune? Yet we F.
formance will be accepted by the Japa- |
nese with a SMILE and that they Will be /
better friends than ever, once they are
convinced We mean TO fight for our be |
loved Philippines.
What has been really accomplished by 4
the course Of the administration so far is /
TO rouse the warlike passions OF two ma |
and Japan against each other in suspicion /
and misunderstanding. The great ques- /
ton involved in our relations with Japan. |
said Secretary Root. is whether the two 1
countries shall confront each other across
the Pacific IN anger and growing hatred. |
This question it is proposed to answer by /
a naval threat Of the most provocative
character. and we are solcmnly told that
that is the best way to preserve peace!