Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-11-25
An Appeal From Hobson.

Congressman IedI sui
Hobson of Alabama has issued an APP
peal to President Roosevelt for the re-
tention of the battleship feet in
Pacific waters and for an adequate de-
feilse of our Pacific coast. The appeal
is in the form of an open letter which
fills 16 page pamphlet and it makes
very interesting reading. even though
the reader does not share the writer's
somewhat excited apprehensions. For
some time the hero of the Merrimac
has been seeing flocks of war clouds
upon the horizon, particularly in the
try has persisted in refusing to take
him seriously. He is very much in
earnest, however, and is not at all dis
ccura ged by rdicule or contempt. Ger
tainly If we ever have war with
japan. which to most minds is as in
conceivable as another war with
Great Britain-Congressman Hobson
will be in d position to say Il told you
so.' 1t is not his fault if the coun-
try is not getting fair warning. The
appeal in question is put in very Wig
orous English, and, while it is not at
all likely that it win cause the Presi-
dent to change the program for the re-
turn of the fleet to Atlantic waters, it
is certain to attract wide attention and
is likely to be filed for reference in GER
tain quarters. Here is the summary
of Hobson's reasons why the fleet
should be kept in the Pacific ocean:
l. Our navy is not large enough to
insure the advantages that come from
control of the sea in the Atlantic. Ii
is large enough to insure them in the
Pacific.
2. Permanent occupation Of our ter
ritory by hostile force from abroad is
not possible in the Atlantic. 1t is
possible in the Pacific.
8 America is not involved in the
politics of Europe. She is very much
involved in the politics of Asia.
a. World problems of the gravest ma
| ture depending largely upon America
| for solution are in an acute stage IN
the Pacific. They have no counter
part in the Atlantic.
s. We understand European nations
and know wien danger approaches in
the Atlantic. We do not understand
Asiatic nations ard are liable to be
struck without warning i'll the Pacific.
g. There is {, balance CT lower in
| Europe, keeping the nations in check.
There is no balance of power in Asia.
and only America can keep Japan i'll
| check.
Z Supremacy in the Pacific ocean is
now at stake, carrying with it terri
| terry of great value, now defenseless in
American possession, and the trade OF
| China, already great and with bound
| less prospects. This supremacy is
| complicated by the unrest in ASIA ana
! the dangerous race problems on the
Pacific coast. The Atlantic presents
| no counterpart.
8. The San Francisco incidents SHOW
! that our relations in the Pacific are at
Il dangerous stage. In these incidents
| and in the immigration question japan
has already thrown down a challent1
| to our laws. our institutions, and our
sovereignty, and because of the alb
snnce of the fleet our Government for
the first time in our history felt it ne
| cessa.v to back down. No such hu
initiation is possible from the, At
lantc.
g. The four great historic causes of
| conflict between nations. desire for
| anothcrs territory. competition for
trade. antagonism Of race, and conflict
of institutions, are all operating in the
Pacific. The forces involved are as
| uncrring in their results as the physl-
cal laws of nature. Any one of these
| causes. unless countcraCtcd. would be
sure to result in war. The only cf-
fcctivo countcractive is the presence of
our fleet. All of these causes of war
are ir an acute form operating on a
| great military power. armed to the
teeth ready on land and sea. Just
emerging from feudalism. flushed with
| victory, and standing without check.
| unbalanced in half the world. The
| constant presence of our fleet Is the
only chance on earth to MAINTAIN
peace. These conditions have no coun-
| terpart in the Atlantic
| 10. In the event of war with our
fleet absent, we should be defcns"loss;
| disaster would be inevitable and We
should find ourselves poWerless tn
bring to bear our latent strength and
resources. 1t would be flying into the
| face Of nature and of Providence to