Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-07-15

Ellsworth, Me, July Ex-senator Eu-
gene Hale was asked his opinion as
to whether the Atlantic fleet should
be sent to Manila or to stations on
the Pacific coast.
II hope and believe that the fleet
will not be moved in the direction in
dicatcd," the Maine senator replied.
II have seen nothing that leads me to
believe President Roosevelt has order
ed or intends To order great fleet of
warshipS into japanese or contiguous
waters. The scheme had its birth with
the general board of the navy, which
for three or four years in order to
magnify the navy exploited a war
scare with Germany. When the people
got tired of this they tried the same
performance with Japan.
MANY. but by no means all. naval
officers approve Of it and probably the
general staff of the army. The two
military branches Of the government
live and thrive upon war, but there
never has been day when it was safe
to leave to them the policies that make
for peace or war. The army and navy
do not view war as Il danger or calan-
ity, but as an opportunity.
Il look to see President Roosevelt
take broader and wiser and what in
the end will he the more popular view
and while | have had no late consult
tation with him, | take it the last
thing he would desire is that any act
of his administration should bring on
war with Japan or any other power
or should aid to the danger of such
conflict.
THE people Of Japan generally and
the members Of the government of that
empire. are honestly and faithfully set
ting themselves to preserve peace and
I" devote the energies of Japan to the
building up of her peaceful interests.
but these happy influences are opposed
in Japan by war or jingo party that
At any moment. by appealing 10 the
passion and rcscntmrnts ~ the people
may upset the ministry ana substitute
for II "A jingo or War government.
There Is no prctcnCc whatever that
Japan In any way threatens uS or any
"f our possessions. our wiSc secretary
"f state IL nj this moment trying To-
negotiate treaty with Japan that will
seth. all controversies and silence all
war alarms. Does anybody believe the
dispatch "f II great war fleet into Asia
tic waters would help the secretary in
his efforts to preserve peace?
Congress has been generous in its
appropriations and under them We
have built what is today. with the
ships now building. probably the sec
ond naval force in the world. Senators
AM members would have looked twice
before voting these appropria tons. had
they supposed that when a great force
of war ships had been assembled the
first enterprise would he an expedition
into ASiatic waters upon the other side
of the globe, carrying with it the inn
minent danger of arousing the resent
mcnt of a great people with whom we
are at peace and with whom q war
would be a wickedness almost past
human conception.
II do not believe either now or in the
near future the President will issue any
such order or commit his administra-
ton to a course which from the mo-
lnent the order is issued is likely to
turn the people of a great empire, who
are now our friends. and with whom
we are ut peace into a condition of
mind that will leave them now and
hereafter as our enemies