The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-07-23

at, the highest point of efficiency the United States navy.
 "But constituted as this people is, if we did not have foreign possession: {: if we abandoned the Monroe doctrine; {; if we handed over to some other power the Panama canal, 1t xould still be necessary for us to have a navy and a strong hghtinE navy.
 We do not want a navy at all if 1t Is not a first class one and such a navy will be necessary for us just so long as we demand the right to admin ister national affairs as we think best. This country is as yet in It's youth. In the process of building up many hun dreds of tllouBands of immigrants are coming here from all parts of the world, reprcBenting many different nationalfties. many different strata of civilization,
 Tn conclusion. there are. points of friction between this country and other countries such as exist for no other nation. As this country grows up, it becomes more and more important that we should keep on the highest possible level, the plane cf living of our work ingmen, for the chief end of national policy ina country should be to keep on the highest level of prosperity the tiiler of the soil and the wage worker. for the prosperity Of all other classes will follow their prosperity. Therefore, gentlemen. as it becomes more and more important to keep that prosperity on . high levei.sit is very possible that we shall have to exercise continually greater Supervision, continually greater exercise of the right of rejec- ton among immigrants that come hither and shall 1t may be. have to take an attitude that will tend at first to provoke friction. Now 1t Is our un- doubted right to say that people, what persons shah come to this country to live, to work to become citizens. stNmA Uu To Rights.
 "The theory of certain of our fel- low citizens tha< we can permanently follow a policy or peace with insult is erroneous. We must stand up for our rights firmly but temperateiy and courteously and with ali possible re- spect. not merely to the rights but to | the feelings of others.
 'It is absolutely necessary that if we claim for ourselves the right to choose who. shall come here, we shall be in trim toauphoId that right if any power challenges it and 1t cannot be upheld by words: it cannot be upheld by q coast defense navy It can be upheld only by the possession of an efficient fighting navy. navy able to preserve
 
 United states. not by inviting attack on our shores and then securing if we cannot repeI 1t but by taking such action as shall guarantee against our shores being attacked.
 "Ats the present day. the Monroe Doc Urine is unchallenged and the people abroad who used to sneer at it, now say 1t is pretty good doctrine after all, a useful doctrine on the whole for the peace of the whole world. what has produced that change? Words ? Not q bit of it. Diplomacy? Only in- solar as diplomacy rested on the sub stantial basis of potentiaI force The voyage of the sixteen battleships around south America through the Straits of Magellan, from Hampton Roads stoH Puget sound---that was the most interpretive object lesson that had ever been offered, as to the reality of the Monroe Jeet las
 esowss gentsen1en wish to refterate with Just as much earneskness aa | have spoken today on other subjects. that, want a resistiess lighting navy, because 1t Is the most effective guar afltee of peace that this country can have. Uncle Sam can well afford to pay for his peace and safety. so cheap an insurance policy as is implied in the maintenance of the U. s. Navy.
 !. M A Great People.
 All of the leaders of. our peopie are fond of assuring this people that it fs a great. people. We are a great peo- pie. That ought not to be subject for boastfulness; it ought to be a sub ject for serious consideration of the heavy responsibilities that go with 1t. W ecannot help playing great part in the world, but we can very easily help playing that part we'll, and to be < 2 great people and make great fall. ure is as unattractive q picture as his- tory affords.
 T would not pretend for a moment, gentlemen. to you or any one else, that merely military proficiency on land or sea would by itself make his or any other nation great First and fore- most comes the duties within the gates of our own household, first and fore most our duty is to strive to bring about a better administration of jus- tice. cleaner. juster, more equitable
 methods an our political, business and social life. the regulation of that or- derly liberty which was the first con- sideration in the minds of the found CTS of this republic Our duties at home are Of first importance but our duties abfoad are of vital consequence also. This nation may fail. no matter how well 1t keeps itself prepared against the possibility of disaster from abroad But it will certainly fail if we do not thus keep ourselves pre- pared. We need greatly in the inter- est of peace, in the interest of true national greatness, that the United states navy with it's ships. its officers and men, shall at every point be kept in the highest possible condition of efficiency and well being.