The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-04-14
PRESIDENT URGES
ON CONGRESS NEED
OF POWERFUL NAVY
Sends Special Message Making
an Earnest Plea for Four
New Battleships.
AMERICA IS FALLING
BEHIND OTHER NATIONS
Undefended Wealth Makes Ag-
gression Likely, He Tells
Legislators.

WASHINGTON. April 14.--Presidcnt
Roosevelt today urged Congress in
special message to provide for :he con-
struction of four battleships Of the
largest and most approved type at
once.
The arguments of the President to
impress his insistence on this naval
program We're few. He pointed out
that the balance OF power is inclilling
against the United States because of
other nations bodybuilding activities;
that this is q rich nation and unde-
Tended wealth invites aggression; that
the last Hague conference made 1t plain
that the nations would not For some
time, If ever. agree on a plan of lilni-
tation of naval armament, and that this
country could i'll afford to relax into a
place where insult would have 10 be
borne in silence.
In part, the message read:
The Message.
Let me again urge ppQie-t the Con-
gresg The I'D Of providing for four
hattleslips of the best and most ad
vanced typ at his session. Prior TO
the recent Hague conference 1t had
been my hope that an agreement could
be reached between the different ma
tions to init the increase of naval
armaments, and especially to limit the
size of warships. But actual experience
showed not merely that it was irnpos-
sible to obtain such an agreement for
the limitation of armaments among the
various leading powers, but that there
was no likelihood whatever of obtaining
it in the future within any reasonable
time.
"Coincidentally with this discovery
occurred q radical change in the build
ing of battleships among the great mill
tary nations-a change in accordance
with which the most modern battle
ships have been or are being con-
structed of size and armament which
doubles, or more probably trebles, their
effectiveness,
"Eyery other great naval nation has
or is building number of ships of this
kind; we have provided for but two,
md therefore the balance of power is
now incIining against us.
'Under these conditions, to provide
for but one or two battleships year is
to provide that this nation, instead of
advancing, shall go backwards in naval
rank and relative power among the
great nations. Such a course would
be unwise for us if we fronted merely
on one ocean. and it is doubly unwise
when we front on two oceans.
III cannot too emphaticsIIy say that
this is 81 measure OF peace, and not OF
war, Il can conceive of no circum-
stances under which this epubIic would
enter into mn aggressive war; most
certainiS, under NO circumstances
would it enter into an aggressive war
to extend its territory or in any other
manner seek mateiaI ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
Not n Military Nation.
1--WE are not military nation. Our
army is SO small as to present an all
most absurd contrast to our size. 1t
is properly treated as little more than a
nucleus for organization in case OF
serious war. Ye we arc rich nation,
and undefended wealth invites aggres-
sion
The very liberty of individual speech
and action. which we so prize and
guard, renders 1t possible that at times
unexpected causes of friction with for
eIgD powers may suddenly develop.
yet it is idle to assume, and from
the standpoint of national interest and
honor it is mischievous folly for any
statesman to assume, that this world
has reached the stage, or has come
within measurable distance of the
stage. when a proud nation, Jealous of
its honor and conscious of it's great
mission in the world. can be content
to rely for peace upon the forbearance
of other powers.
1t would be equally foolish to rely
upon each of them possessing at all
times and under all circumstances and
provocations an altruistic regard for
the rights of others. Those who hold
this view are blind, indeed, to all that
has gone ON before their eyes in the
world at large. They are blind to what
has happened in China, in Turkey, In
the Spanish possessions, in Central and
South Africa, during the last dozen
years.
THE United States can hope for a
permanent career OF peace on only one
condition, and that is on condition OF
building and maintaining a hrst-class
navy. and the step to be taken toward
this end at this time Is to provide for
the building of four additional battle
ships.