The Detroit times., 1909-05-06
SMALL NAVY IS
BIG HANDICAP
Ex-President Declares U. S. Is
Powerless to Enforce immigration
Laws Without Large Navy.

NEW YORK, May eve have
the right to say what immigrants shall
come to our shores" declares former
president Theodore Roosevelt in an
article In the current Outlook. "but
We are powerless to enforce this right
against any nation that chooses to dis
regard our wishes. unless we continue
to build up and maintain n first-class
| lighting navy"
This, the first of the signed articles
prepared by the former president on
current political topics, is a character.
istic Roosevelt document discussing at
length the developments in the Japan.
ese question. Both sides are given.
while incorporated In the whole is a
powerful plea for greater navy. In
part the former president says:
There are certain elementary prin-
ciples all OF which should be kept In
view II nation wishes to act Justly
both by itself and others. II must in
sist upon what is necessary for its
own healthy life. and this even at the
cost OF a possible clash; but this III
sistence upon what is due to itself
should always be accompanied by all
possible courtesy to and fair dealing
with others.
These are the principles upon
which the people Of the United States
should act as regards the question of
immigration OF the japanese into this
country. The Japanese are highly
civilized people Of extraordinary mill.
tary. artistic and industrial develop
ment; they are proud, warlike and
sensitive. believe that our people
have what personally certainly have.
a profound and hearty admiration for
them. But this admiration and re-
spect Is accompanied by the firm con-
vfction that 1t is not for the advantage
OF either people that emigrants from
either country should settle in mass
in the other country.
Japan would certainly object to the
incoming of masses OF American
farmers. laborers and small traders;
indeed the Japanese would object to
this at least as strongly as the men OF
object to the incoming in mass of
Japanese workmen, agricultural labor
ers and men engaged in small trades.
The Japanese certainly object to
Americans acquiring land In Japan at
least as much as the Americans of the
far western states object to the Japan
csc acquiring land on our soil The
Americans who go to Japan and the
Japanese who come to America should
be of the same general class-that is.
they should be travellers, students.
teachers. scientific investigators, men
engaged In international business. men
sojourning in the land for pleasure or
study
The fact that all really patriotic
and far-sighted Americans insist that
hand In hand with a policy of good
will toward foreign nations. should go
the policy OF upbuilding our navy is
often interpreted by well-meaning but
short-sighted men as being a threat
towards other nations. or as being
provocative Of war. or the two as.
sumptions the first is utterly unwar-
ranted afd=the= seeoHd-the- direct re-
verse of the truth. We have the right
to say for instance, what immigrants
shall come to our own shores but we
are powerless to enforce this right
against any nation that chooses 10
disregard our wishes. unless we con
tinue to build up and maintain a first.
class fighting navy"