Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1907-07-17
WEDNESDAY. JULY 10, 1907.
Senseless War Talk.

week or two, it is refreshing to be
able to find here and there comments
on the situation that smack Of sanity
and common sense.
Among the latter is an inverview
accorded representative OF the New
York Herald last Thursday by Senator
Eugene Hale. Both in the matter
of war talk and the sending of
the feet to the Pacific, Senator Hale
expresses views that aptly illus
trate his broad and comprehensive
grasp of large affairs.
1t is noticeable that since the publ
cation of this interview, which has
been widely copied throughout the
country, there has been striking lull
in the war talk that preceded it, and
probably thisslull is due in large meas
ure to it. The interview follows:
The Herald asks me "If think the feet
should be sent to Manila or stations on the
Pacific coast.
hope and believe that the feet will not be
moved in the direction Indicated. l have
seen nothing that leads me to believe either
that President Roosevelt has ordered or in
tends to order a great feet 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 war scare
with Germany. When the people got tired of
this, they tried the same performance with
hut hry of1 a1
officers approve of it, and probably the gen
eral staff of the army.
The two military branches of the govern
ment 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 danger or calamity, but as an opportu-
nifty ! look to see President Roosevelt take
broader and wiser, and what in the end
viii be the more popular, view, and while
have had no late consultation with him. /
take it that the last thing he would desire is
that any act under his administration should
bring on war with Japan or any other
power. or should add to the danger of such a
conflict. My hope in these possibly danger
Gus times is in him, and not in the army and
navy.
danger to warn everybody against any course
that may possibly increase friction The
people of Japan generally, and the members
of the government of that empire, are hon
estly and faithfully setting themselves to pre-
serve peace and to devote the energies of
Japan to the building up of her peaceful in
terests, but these happy influences are OPP
posed in Japan by war or lingo party that
at any moment. by appealing to the passions
and resentments of the people may upset the
ministry, and substitute for 1T a lingo or war
government. Whoever now shall take any
steps that viii weaken the peaceful purposes
OF the japanese government, and the ma
jority of the Japanese people, win be held
guilty before the American people. should
war come of making it possible and of has
tening it, every incidence in the present stu
alton makes against display of our military
power in Asiatic waters.
There is no pretense whatever that Japan
in any way threatens us or any of our pos
sessions. Our wise secretary of state is at
this moment trying TO negotiate treaty with
Japan that viii settle all controversies and
silence all war alarms Does anybody be-
lieve that the dispatch of a great war fleet
into Asiatic waters would help the great sec
parrot talk that the expedition is only to
train the fleet, and has in il no warning or
menace to Japan, is not worth moment 5
consideration. Does anybody believe tina.
such an expedition would not weaken the
hands OF the Japanese ministry and
strengthen the lingo element OF Japan? No
sane person can have any doubt on these
questions.
priations, and under them we have built
what is to-day, with the ships now building,
probably the second naval force in the
world. Senators and members would have
looked twice before voting these appropria-
tions had they supposed that when a great
force of warships should be assembled the
first enterprise would be an expedition into
Asiatic waters upon the other side of the
globe, carrying with it the imminent danger
of arousing the resentment of great people
with whom we are at peace, and with whom
a war would be a wickedness almost past
human conception.
do not believe that either now or in the
near future the President viii issue any such
order, or commit his administration to a
course which, from the moment the order is
issued, is likely to turn the people of a great
empire. who are now our friends and with
whom we are at peace, into a condition of
mind that win leave them now and hereafter
as our enemies.
While, as l have said, have no fear that the
President viii take such q course, l should
be still better satisfed IT, in his characteristic
way, he would give TO the public some utter
ance which shows that he has no such thing
in contemplation.
In striking contrast with the frantic
efforts OF the lingo press to fan into
flame war spirit are the hearty and
sincere greetings that for nearly
week past have been going on be-
tween high Japanese and United
States officials; for example the