The Washington herald., 1908-04-16
A Naval Ruganoo put to Rout.


President Roosevelt's big navy message
proved to be wasted ammunition. posi-
bly, because il lacked explosive force. Il
contains some curious reading. Nothing
Mr. Roosevelt has lately written displays
so poor a command Of his subject-a sub.
iect. too. with which he is thoroughly
familiar. We look ia vain through this
bit Of special pleading in behalf of naval
expansion for single convincing reason
why we should enter upon the interna-
uonal scramble for sea power If The big
navy case depends on Mr. Roosevelt'S
presentation Of il, then is il indeed hope
less. The irrelevancy of much that the
President says suggests tina; from pru-
dental motives he is concealing the real
reasons for asking a large naval increase
which are, as developed by Mr.. Hobson
that cur aggressive policy in the Orient
will inevitably lead as 10 armed collision
with the dominant power or powers there
in which conflict we shall have TO fight
for our very existence. On this theory.
however fantastic. the need for a bigger
navy is ineligible. We can understand
what Mr, Hobscn means.
We do not believe there is any wide
acceptance in this country. outside OF
naval circles, OF the idea that our con-
tinental territory viii be in danger OF
foreign aggression unless We build up a
naval power able to cope with that OF
any other nation. Nor do We believe that
any considerable number of Americans
are convinced that the only way 70 main
tain peace is % engage in the absurd
race for naval supremacy that is going
on between England and Germany. These
two nations are increasing their naval
ornaments purely FOR self-defense, and
neither has any design upon us. AS for
Great BTitain's Oriental ally, her navy is
Tar inferior TO that Of the United States.
and her modest shipbuilding programme
threatens 10 swamp her national treas
uTy. II there is any nation that is likely
10 be compelled TO fight for her very
existence within the next few years, that
nation is Japan, not the United States
Her situation ia the Orient was never
more precarious than il is to-day. and We
might as we'll dismiss the Hobsonian no
tion Of a japanese invasion Of Hawaii
and our mainland as the fanciful diver
siol Of a naval strategist oeTheated in
midnight conferences with the mighty
No real danger exists OF aggTs sssion
upon the United States. but there does
exist a real danger of our aggression in
directions wholly alien 70 our national
spirit and traditions, notwithstanding Mr..
Roosevelts avowal that he can conceive
Of no circumstance under which we
should enter on an aggressive war But
We now have the Philippines squatting on
our back like an Old Man Of the Sea. and
because Of the Philippines We are asked
10 double the size Of our navy, and be-
cause we have a big navy some ambi-
tious President may one day engage in
further exploits 10 carry on our great
mission in the world" Mr., Roosevelt
frankly admits be would have plunged
the whole Of Europe into war rather than
permit the Armenian massacres. Would
he plunge the whole Of the Orient into
war rather than see Manchuria divided
up between Russia and Japan?
The country may be congratulated on
the refusal of the House to be stamped
ed When battle ships are needed Con
gress may be trusted to provide them;
but there is no more need of four ships
now than there was a year ago, when
Mr.. Roosevelt thought one a year would
be enough, for by his own confession
nothing has happened in the meantime
but the determination Of one or two
friendly powers TO build larger war ships
than ever. We have no call to engage in
such experimentation, and il is a subject
for national rejoicing that the beating OF
naval tonl-toms and the exhibition Of the
specter Of wars past and to come have
not availed to extort from Congress an
extravagant and possibly menaeing naval
programme.