Albuquerque citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1907-1909, 1908-10-15
WE OWE DUTY
TO THE WORLD
Government Should Not Only Be
In Position to Protect Itself but
to Assure Weaker Nations
of Peaceful Lives.
He Says.

Greensboro, N. c., Oct. 15.--1n a
speech before the North Carolina
peace congress here today Captain
Richmond Pearson Hobson advonat-
ed larger navies for both the Allan
tic and Pacific and sufficient strength
In both army and navy of the Uni
ted States not only to assure the pres
eryation of peace for this country but
also to assure weaker nations that this
government would not see them i'm
posed upon.
Reminding his hearers that he had
the privilege of placing in President
Roosevelt's hands the published re-
port of the last meeting of the North
Carolina Peace society, Captain Hob
son declared that he was entirely in
accord with the president when on
that occasion he said that peace So
cieties merely jeopardize the national
welfare. and are profoundly hostile
to American national life, If they OBJ
struct the government In providing
ample military and naval power to
meet conditions in the actual world
of today"
The president, he said. previously
had elaborated his views in these
words:
'I am glad to learn that the North
Carolina Peace society has declared
itself in favor of adequate armament
as well as effective arbitration. There
IS no inconsistency in advocating both
of these things at the present time;
on the contrary, those who have the
public welfare at heart fail in the
performance of d part OF their duty
II they neglect to labor for both. Ell
fectual arbitration should be desired
by every far-sighted citizen; while
under present conditions, not to pro-
vide adequate armament would be
inexcusable on the part of those
charged with the responsibility ol
preserving the rights of the people
Plunging then into the subject OF
his address, Captain Hobson said;
I'm ascertaining the relation OF
armament and arbitration to states
rights, 1t is necessary TO go back tc
the constitution. The preamble OF
the constitution sets forth that one
of the prime objects for which tina
instrument was ordained was to pro
vide for the common defense anC
again Section of Article lN pro
yides that the United States shall pro
INVASION. The federal governmen
therefore Is in duty bound to main
tain such an armed force as will Sc
cure to each state the proper protec
tiOn and an armed force equal t
the duty imposed must be unquestion
ably superior when engaged in ou
possessions. or in the waters adjacen
thereto.
This means supremacy for de
fense, not for aggression. 1t does no
necessitate having more ships o
armed men than a nation or nation
that are possible antagonists.
means having more power than sue
nations have, capable Of being apple
against them, when invading or ap
preaching our territory or posses
sions.
'"rbe situation OF some nations
such that they cannot use against u
their entire armed force, owing
other dangers this would expose ther
10. Due allowance being made 10
this and other elements affecting IN
question of superior power In ou
possessions and in the waters adja
cent thereto. the United States gov
ernment IS under a clear duty to eac
state of the union to make such pro
vision without any further delay
e.. TO have power in the Pacific 81
perior to the power OF any Asiat
nation, and in the Atlantic superit
to the power of any European M
ton"
Captain Hobson went on to say:
Until nations are ready 10 inst
tute a system where ideas can
made 10 triumph by reason OF II
truth that is In them, this nation Is
duty bound TO place behind the ju
proposals II has made and will col
tinue 10 make the force OF an armj
ment proportionate TO the justice
our intentions and the interest of OF
citizens in the ever increasing con
plexity Of foreign affairs, Thus v
can and will effectuate our ju
wishes. even as washington backed U
the declaration OF independence wit
force sufficient to make II good
opposition TO the force marshallt
against II.
"This general duty Is made doub
imperative as respects AFFAIRS I'm As
and the Pacific, by our possession