Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-04-15

than in any single great war since the
close of the Napoleonic struggle. To
any public man who knows Of the COM
plants continually made to the state
department, there is an element OF
grim tragedy in the claim that lifetime
has gone by when weak nations or
peoples can be oppressed by those who
are stronger without arousing effec-
tive protests from other strong inter-
ests. Events still fresh in the mind of
every thinking man show that neither
arbitration nor any other device can
yet be invoked to prevent the gravest
and most terrible wrong-doing to peo-
pies who are either few in numbers or
who, if numerous. have lost the first
and most important of national vir-
tues-the capacity for self-defence.
When a nation is so happily situat-
ed as ours-that is, when it has not
reason 10 fear or to be feared by it's
land neighbors-the fleet is all the more
necessary for the preservation of
peace. Great Britain has been saved
by it's fleet from the necessity of fac
ing one of the two alternatives-of
submission ITO conquest by foreign
power or of itself becoming great
military power. The United States can
hope for a permanent career of peace
on only one condition and that is, on
condition of building and maitaiing a
tirst-class navy; and the step to be
taken toward this end at this time is
tc provide for the building of four
additional battleships.
l earnestly wish that the Congress
uo,,ld NOES no p,ooo,ro fnr u.hioh 7
have asked for Strengthening and rem
dering more efficient the army as 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 far sighted
wisdom to enact them all into laws but
the most vital and immediate need is
that of the four battleships.
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 nations.
Cultivate peace and harmony with all.
Nothing is more essential than that
permanent, inVeterate antipathieS
against particular nations and pas
sionate attachments for others should
be excluded, and that in place of them
just and amicable feelings toward all
should be cultivated"
/ cannot recommend to your notice
a measure for the fulfilment of our
duties to the rest of the world with
out again pressing upon you the neces-
sity of placing ourselves in a condi-
ton of complete defence and of ex-
acting from them the fulfilment of
their duties toward US. The United
States ought not to indulge per-
suasion that. contrary to the order of
human events, they will forever keep
at a distance those painful appeals to
| arms with which the history of evnry
| other nation abounds. There is a
rank due to the United States among
nations which will be withheld, if not
| absolutely lost, by the reputation of
weakness. If we desire to avoid in
suit, we must be able to repel it; if
we desire to secure peace one of the
| most powerful Instruments of our ris-
ing prosperity, it must be known that
we are ready at all times for war"
(Signed)
THEODORE ROOSEVELT,
| The White House, April IA, 1908.