The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-10-08

of other powers-as seems to be Mr
Bryan's idea. 1t would be equally fool
ish upon our part to rely upon each OF
them possessing at all times and under
all circumstances and proyocations, an
altruistic regard for the rights Of 9th
ers.
Must Maintain American Prestige.
The United States can hope for a
permanent career of peace on only one
condition, and that is on condition of
maintaining a first class navy-despite
the obstructive tactics of the Democrat,
ic party.
The government has found it neces'
sary to be liberal in appropriations for
rivers, harbors and bays, for irrigation.
for the construction of public buildings,
and for various other public enterprises
which rebound either to the benefit OF
some specific locality or to the people
at large. Every great power has found
it necessary to provide protection fol
it's commerce, it's foreign trade, its
ports, and its people doing business OF
travelling in other countries. We have
become a great power. This nation to-
day lines up alongside of the five great
powers of the world. We have asSum
ed responsibilities by the recent colo
NAL expansion which was thrust upon
us, and from which we cannot excape
if we would, and ought not if we could
Responsibility OF World Power.
We have obligations to Cuba, where
we have said to the world we will pro-
tect her against assault or invasion,
against attacks upon her independence,
integrity of territory, of her institu-
lions. We have Porto Rico, which can
be defended only from the sea, as Cuba
can be defended only from the sea. We
have the islands of Tutuila, Guam,
Hawaii, and the Philippines far from
the United States, all of which must
be protected from the sea. We have
assumed another obligation in the Pan
anna Canal, which perhaps is greatest
of all.
We have the longest line of sea coast
Of any other power in the world ex-
cept one-7,000 miles-and in addition
to that, Alaska. We have assumed re-
sponsibility for law and order in Pan
anna. The spades and drills and steam
shovels are there at work and the whole
world is taking notice, because they
are to alter the paths of commerce and
to change the relations Of nations. The
future of the Monroe Doctrine is in the
custody of our navy. Its peaceful rec
IGNITION will be the tribute which other
nations pay, not to the doctrine, but to
our sea power.
We as people do not fully appre
ciate the commercial jealousies now ex-
listing in Europe against us and which
will be accentuated by the construction
and completion of the Panama canal,
Not alone our states on the Pacific, but
the whole line of ports on the Atlantic
Coast. will come into this conception
for the ports on the Atlantic coast are
as near in miles to Japan, China and
the Orient, by the Panama canal, as
are the reservoirs that gather for dis
tribution abroad, the products of Cont
mental Europe, or London, through the
Suez Canal.
Commerce and Our Sea Power.
This great future commerce cannot
be protected by treaties alone. We
cannot protect our commerce. and ex-
pand our trade by mere arbitration at
The Hague alone. We can only main
tain commerce by having a sea power
adequate for its protection, for the Sc
curity of our islands, and to prevent 2
hostile feet from destroying in a week
the Panama canal, after it has cost us
from two to three hundred million dol
lars and ten years to build.
1t is therefore to the interest of ev
cry high-minded, public-spirited Ameri
can to endorse the constructive policy
of the Republican party, and encourage
the establishment and maintenance OF
a first-class American navy.