New-York tribune., 1908-04-16
THE PRESIDENTS REMINDER.

1t is a reminder rather than a warning which
the President gives to Congress and 10 the ma
1iUn in his message asking for the construction
Of four new first class battlcships. His refer
ence TO recent events and current conditions in
China and other countries is not to be
Sarded as alarmst OF as containing some cryp-
tic hints at portcntGus nenaces TO our and the
worlds peace which are known only 10 the
inner circles of diploulacJ There is no doub-
that he and his advisers do know mucll-as
they should-cOnccrnng our foreign relations
and the relations of other lands which is not
and should not be known by the general pub
lie and for that reason, if for no other, his
recommendations should have much weight
without the why and wherefore Of them being
always asked. Something must be conceded 10
supreme authority and responsibility. But
enough is known TO all intelligent men through
our the world 70 give adequate explanation and
vindicatiOn 10 his words
The Presidents reminder is partly of obvious
historical facts. and partly of equally well known
traits of practically universal human nature.
The example of China is an example of the mis-
fortunes which attend lack of self-defensive
strength. Her elaborate disregard of military
efficiency did not save her from a Tartar con
quest more complete and more lasting than that
which any other nation suffered. It did not save
her from probably the most costly and destruct-
i've rebellion in the worlds history 1t has made
| her the victim of aggression and oppression on
/ almost every hand, nations debating treaties TO
her and making encroachments upon her terri
tory at will. And everybody knows well that the
continued integrity of what is left Of China is
to-day in The unstable equilibrium induced by
the jealouscs Of other powers toward each other
rather than in the stable equilibrium of comp4-
tent selfprotcction or Of universal and perpetual
good will
If a rich should build fine house and
| i'll it with all sorts of valuable property, and
then should make it his boast 10 The community
/ that his house and lis contents were unpro-
| tected that he had no thought Of stealing
! from others he expected that all others would
! refrain from stealing from him. and that, any
way. if any one did steal from him he was rich
enough to employ detectives and police ana
! hunt the rascal down and punish him at what
/ ever cOst-WOuld he not be rightly esteemed
either a fanatic or a fool: What more favor
able judgment is TO be passed upon a nation
which would leave its vast wealth unprotected
! trusting 10 some as Yet unknown altruism Of all
/ the world for immunity from harm and To the
! suggestion that it was so rich and strong that
no matter what losses il was made to suffer il
/ would in time be able 10 recoup and to avenge
| them all, at ten times greater cost than would
/ have been involved in guarding against them?
There are doubtless those who viii scornfully
! say that America is not TO be comuared with
China, and that this country could never be
/ treated as that empire has been. That is sim
/ ply TO affect the arrogant assumption that we
/ are so superior a people that We are exempt
! from the operation of cause and effect which
/ has prevailed elsewhere. Those who wish .
hug that egOtistica deluson TO their souls are
welcome to the sport Of if. The part of a ser-
! Gus statesman is TO recognize that Ike causes
! produce Ike effects in the civic rs well as III
! the physical world. The elder Pitt once spoke
of those who, after seeing the consequences Of
/ "a thousand errors, continue still to blunder.
and in whom age has only added obstinacy to
stupidity. That would be a harsh Indictment
! for Americans. but it would be difficult to vim
dcate those from its justice who should blindIy
refuse 10 apply TO this nation the rules whicl
/ have obtained in the cases Of al others and
who should fatuously trust TO Americas being
/ through some nscrutable huggermugger. i'm
mune against the otherwise inevitable penalties
and destinIes of mankind