New-York tribune., 1908-04-15
PLEA FOR BATTLESHIPS
Continued from FIRST page.

the last dozen years. For centuries China has
cultivated the very spirit which our own peace
at-any-price men wish this country TO adopt.
For centuries China has refused to provide mil
ltary forces. and has treated the career of the
soldier as inferior in honor and regard to the
career of the merchant or of the of letters
There never has been so large empire which
Tor so long a time has so resolutely proceeded
on the theory of doing away with what is called
militarism." Whether the result has been
happy in internal affairs I need not discuss; all
the advanced reformers and farsighted patriots
in the Chinese Empire at present seeking
q may add, with our hearty good will for
radical and farreaching reform in internal af-
fairs. In external affairs the policy has resulted
In various other nations now holding large por-
tions OF Chinese territory while there is a very
acute fear In China lest the empire because
OF its defencelessness. be exposed 10 absolute
70 help 1t only in small measure. because no
nation can help any other unless that other can
help itself
MANY APPEALS FOR HELP
The State Department is continually appealed
10 TO interfere on behalf OF peoples and nation
alities who insist that they are suffering from
oppression; now Jews in one country, now Chris
tians in another. now black men said TO be op-
pressed by white men in Africa. Armenians
Coreans Firms Poles, representa- tives OF ALL ap-
peal at times TO this government, All OF this
oppression is alleged to exist in time of pro
found peace, and frequently although by no
means always. il is alleged to occur at the
hands Of people who are not very formida BILE in
military sense. In some cases the accusations
founded In others they are well founded, and
in certain cases the most appalling loss Of life
Is shown TO have occurred accompanied with
frightful cruelty.
1t is not province to decide which side
has been right and which has been wrong in all
or any of these controversities I am merely re-
ferrtng TO the loss of life. II is probably con-
servative statement to say that within the last
twelve years at periods of profound peace and
butcheries have occurred in which more lives OF
men. women and children have been lost than
! in any single great war since the close OF the
Napoleonlc struggles To any public man who
knows of the complaints continually made TO
the State Department there is element OF
grim tragedy In the claim that the time has
gone by when weak nations or peoples can be
oppressed by those who are stronger without
arousing effective protest from other strong in
terests. Events still fresh in the mind OF every
| thinking man show that neither arbitration nor
any other device can yet be invoked TO pre-
vent the gravest and most terrible wrongdoing
10 peoples who are either few in numbers or
| who. II numerous have lost the first and most
important Of national virtues-the capacity for
self-defence.
When a nation is so happily situated ours
that is. when II has no reason to fear TO be
| feared by its land neighbors-the fleet is all the
| more necessary for the preservation Of peace.
Great Britain has been saved by its feet from
| the necessityof facing one of the two alterna-
tiVes--of submission to conquest by a foreign
power or OF itself becoming a great military
power. The United States can hope for a per-
manent career of peace only condition,
and that is on condition OF building and main
tanning first class navy; and the step be
taken toward this end at this time is to pro-
vide for the building OF four additional battle
ships. I earnestly wish that the Congress would
pass the measures for which I have asked, for
| strengthening and rendering more efficient the
army well as the navy: all of these measures
| as affecting every branch and detail OF both
| services are surely needed and it would be the
part Of farsighted wisdom 70 enact them all into
| laws. but the most vital and immediate need is
| that OF the four batteshps.
WAsHINGToNs POLICY.
| To carry out this policy is but to act IN the
| spirit of George Washington; is but TO continue
the policies which he outlined when he said
| observe good faith and justice toward all ma
tions. Cultivate peace and harmony with all.
Nothing is more essential than that per-
manent. inveJerate antipathies against particu-
| lar nations and passionate attachments for 9TH
| ers should b. excluded, and that in place OF
them just and amicablc feelings toward all
should be cultivated"
I cannot recommend to your notice measures
for the fulf1lment of duties to the rest Of
| the world without again pressing upon YOU the
necessity Of placing ourselves in condition OF
complete defence and OF eXacting from them the
| fulflment of their duties toward us The United
States ought not to indulge persuasion that,
contrary to the order Of human events, they will
forever keep at a distance those painful appeals
| 70 arms with which the history of every other
nation abounds. There is a rank due TO the
United States among nations which will be
withheld, II not absolutely lost by the reputa-
tion Of weakness. II desire to avoid insult
We must be able TO repe it: II We desire to
secure peace. OF the most powerful instru-
ments Of our rising prosperity. II must be known
that are at all times ready for
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
The White House. April a. 1908
The expected fight in the House the bat
tleship question did not take place to-day. Most
of the session devoted to lively debate
garding naval stations in the Philippines. The
supporters OF the Subg Bay appropriation. led
by Messrs. Foss and Hobson, were victorious
despite vigorous opposition from both sides of
the chamber. Accordingly the 100000 proviso
recommended by the committee for improving
and developing the naval station at OlongapO
Subig Bay. allowed 10 stand
Consideration Of the naval bill was not finished
when the House, at SOB p. m, took a recess
until IL 80 a. m to- morrow.