The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1907-08-08
Hobson Declares Navy
Must Be Made Greater
Better and Larger Equipment Abso-
IuteIy Necessary Says Hero
OF the NIerriP1ac.
FOR PRESERVATION OF PEACE.
War Clouds Loom Threatening Above
Horizon Says Congressman in
Chautauqua Address.

Congressman Richmond Pearson
Hobson, the Hero of the Merrimac, .
delivered his lecture on THE Amer
ican Navy" at the Clarksburg Chau-
tauqua on the old fair grounds Wed
nesday night and was accorded one
of the most enthusiastic receptions
even given to a public speaker in
this city.
The United States of America
faces impending war with Japan and
consequent disaster, declared Capt.
Hobson. unless immediate and ade-
quate efforts are at once exerted to
strengthen our naval power After
reciting the recent diplomatic nego-
tiations between the japanese gov
ernment and the United States relat-
ing to the alleged abuse of japanese
subjects in America the events lead
ing up to them and what he termed
the humiliating compliance with the
Mikado's demands, he said that it is
but natural and right that the Japan
ese should seek the dominion of the
far east and Pacific waters, and a
pretext for the beginning. of war
against America to that end. This
attitude of the yellow race is nothing
more or less. said Captain Hohson,
than the natural consequence OF the
meeting of the races in the far east
in the last several decades.
America is destined by Heaven,
said Captain Hobson, to be the ma
ton that will solve the problem of
international peace and !. no other.
Its great resources, its influences for
good and its uplifting, upbuilding
civilization mark 1t for the purpose
as no other nation Is marked, and
the peace it would bring would be
peace of good will toward all man
kind.
At the present time the American
navy is utterly inadequate Tor the
proper protection of the many
thousands of miles of coast land and
the island possessions of the nation
against invasion nor is It large nor
powerful enough to throw signiti-
cant weight into the scales that deter
mine the balance of power among
the nations of the world for the es-
tablishment of international peace.
Japan is preparing for war. She.
knows that tomorrow morning she
can open the guns nj her mighty
navy upon America and begin war
that will secure for her the Ameri-
can possessions in the Pacific and
domineering influence upon America
as a world power We must pre-
pare for it. And the way to prepare
for it. is not to strengthen our army
so much as to strengthen our navy
which will. If adequate, prevent any
belligerency on the part of Japan to-
wards our country. To do this re-
quires an appropriation Immediately
of $5O.0OO,OOO at least and the
same amount each year for ten years
for the building up of our navy.
This is the only way. declared Cap
tain Hobson, to prevent the impend-
ing disaster, which Is bound to come
upon us within ten years at least.
Captain Hobson's address was re-
plete with interesting facts and in
formation upon his subject and his
discourse was followed with the clos
est attention. He has splendid de-
livery, the address of a person thor
oughly and conscientiously imbued
with the righteousness of his cause
and a patriotic and altruistic sym
pathy for the future welfare of our
nation and its people.
Captain Hobson was introduced by
Stuart F. Reed, who acted as chair
man, in brief and eloquent speech
in which he referred to the contribu-
tion of West Virginia to the Ameri-
can navy. instancing the different
men from this State whose achieve
ments and heroism constituted some
of the most brilliant chapters of our
country's history.
At the conclusion Of Captain Hob
cons address he asked for vote up
on an Endorsement of his views with
the result that the following resolu-
tion was unanimously passed:
In the interest of peace and justice
be it resolved by this gathering OF
representative citizens Of the county
fcontinned ON pare s.1