The San Francisco call., 1908-05-09

= eel } f0d- 1t Is lHdeeds memoFaDie
momentpus occasion that brings us
to this hospitable board We are now
seeing what before we have never
dreamed of seeing-forty-tw armed
vessels Of all sizes and grades, eigh-
teen of which are battieships, all ready
If need be, for every eventuality OF
war, proudly floating In the bay of Sar
Francisco and with perfect serenity
looking over Balboas far outstretching
ing sea. They have come steadily on
without detriment or untoward Incl
dent from the time they left their
rendezvous in the Atlantic ocean till
their anchors gripped the bottom OF
our welcoming bay. And there they
float, a wonder breathing, mighty
spectacle. as Instruments, not of the
direful god of war. but of the blessed
goddess of peace, who, let US hope, may
long reign over US. And here let me
pause for a moment to congratulate
Secretary Metcalf. under whose ad-
ministration Of naval affairs this great
undertaking has been SO successfully
carried out.
The wisest act, perhaps, of President
Roosevelts looked at from any point OF
view, was the sending of this great ar
mada to these occidental shores. The
titanic forces of Caucasian civilization
have pressed ever and ever westward
newly felt, tremendous energies where
the Pacific spreads its vastness to the
orient. population Of millions will
before long be engaged in innumer-
able activities from one end of our Pa
cific shore to the other. 1t is almost too
much for hope that on the great
ocean between US and the east
no struggle will ever arise for COM
mercial or other supremacy.
WANT PEACE EyERMoRE
I'VE on this side of our country's do
main harbor nothing but the peace
fullest intentions; what all of us want
is uninterrupted trade that will pen
eft alike the occident and the orient,
but we agree to the hilt with Presi-
dent Roosevelt that the surest way tJ
keep the peace is to be prepared at any
moment to maintain all reasonable s.e-
mands and to forfend all unreasonable
demands that may be made against us.
This is no time for quixotism 1t is a
time when with every desire and with
every hope for peace with all nations.
we must come to the realization tina
sea power is the main. the determine
ing factor in all national conflicts, and
that IL our country is to hold her owr
with other countries, If she Is to mali
tain peace with honor. she must foster
more than ever her naval strength"
Secretary Metcalf was the next
speaker. He said in part:
Il was very glad, indeed. that Adj
miral Evans could come down, II only
for few minutes. He sent word yes
terday that he wanted to make his
official call on me. l sent back word
that he was to remain here and for
the time being, forget the regulations
called on him, and think the warmth
of the reception Of the people Of san
Francisco has done almost as much A.
the mineral waters OF Paso Robes Ia
improving his health Admiral Evans
will go on the retired list in a shor,
time. Wller l called on him / told him
that as long as | was secretary of the
navy he would be assigned to actlve
duty
There was some opposition on the
part of certain eastern newspa pers At
the time this cruise was begun. This
has now disappeared and 1t generally
conceded that 1t was one of the wisest
acts of President RooseveIts admins
tration. In his judgment the experience
derived from this cruise by officers and
men viii be of greater benefit to the
navy than anything else during his ad-
ministratlon. He greatly appreciated
your invitation to come to the coast At
this time, and he ,bade me say that Il
congress had not been in session. aotb-
ing would have given him greater
pleasure than to visit San Francisco.
The Monroe doctrine was promul-
gated in 1928, but President Roosevelt
has done more in his term to cement