Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1908-10-21
HOBS0N SPEAKS
FOR LARGER NAVY
DECLARES THAT FIRST DUTY 10
TO PROVIDE FOR COMMON
DEFENSE.
MUST MAINTAIN OUR POSSES
sIoNs BY SUPERIOR POWER
IF NECESSARY.

greensboro, N. c., Oct. 16.-Re-
nindlng his hearers that he had
the privilege of placing in President
Hoosevelts hands the published re.
port OF the last meeting of the North
carolina Peace society, Captain Hob
son declared at the present meeting of
mat congress that he was entirely in
accord with the president when on
mat occasion he said that peace so
cleties merely jeopardize the national
welfare, and are profoundly hostile to
American national life, if they OBJ
@struct the government in providing
ample military and naval power to
meet conditions in the actual world of
to-day"
The president, he said, previously
elaborated his views in these words:
Il am glad to learn that the North
Carolina Peace society has declared
itself in favor of adequate armament
as well as effective arbitration. There
is no inconsistency in advocating both
OF these things at the present time;
on the contrary, those who have the
public welfare at heart fail in the per-
Torrance of part of their duty if
they neglect to labor for both Effect
nal arbitration should be desired by
every far-sighted citizen; while under
present conditions, not to provide ade-
quate armament would be inexcusable
on the part of those charged with the
responsibility of preserving the rights
of the people,
Plunging then into the subject of
his address, Captain Hobson said:
In ascertaining the reIAtion of ar
mament and arbitration to state
rights. it is necessary to go back to
the constitution. The preamble of the
constitution sets forth that one of the
prime objects for which that instru-
ment was ordained was to provide
for the common defense and again
Section 4 of Article w provides that
the United States shall protect every
state in the union against invasion
The federal government therefore is
in duty bound to maintain such an
armed force as will secure to each
state the proper protection and an
armed force equal to the duty i'm
posed must be unqestionably su
perior when engaged in our possess
ions, or in the waters adjacent there
to.
This means supremacy for de-
tense, not for aggression. 1t does not
necessitate having more ships or
armed men than a nation or nations
that are possible antagonists. 1t
means having more power than such
nations have, capable of being ap-
piled against them, when invading or
approaching our territory or posses
sions
"The situation of some nations is
g,,ch that they cannot use against us
their armed force. owing to other dan
gers this would expose them to. Due
allowance being made for this and
other elements affecting the question
of superior power in our possessions i
and in the waters adjacent thereto
the United States government is un-
der a clear duty to each state OF the
union to make such provision without
any frther delay, /. e., to have power
in the Pacific superior to the power /
of any Asiatic nation, and in the Az
lantic superior to the power OF any i
European nation"
Captain Hobson said that until ma
lions are already to institute sys
tenn where ideas can be made to tn |
umph nv reason of the truth that is IN /
them this nation is in duty bound 10
Mace behind the just proposals 1t mas
,o.aa and will continue to make the
force of an armament proporuonale
IN tho iustice of our intentions ana
the interest of our citizens in the ever
increasing completely of foreign al
foirs Tins we can and will ef1ectu
a,o orr inst wishes, even as Washing !
ION backed up the declaration OF M
dependence with force sufncient 10
make it good in opposition 70 tne
force marshalled against 1t.
sThis general duty is made douois
imnerative as respects analrs III
As.a and the Pacific, by our possess ],
ION of the Philippines and the HaWal I
;or islands. These are the keys OF
naace and Justice in Asiatfc afrairs
during the coming half century. These
lows are in our hands. and the people
of America and of all countries should
and will hold this generation OF Amer
leans responsible for the proper use