The Mena weekly star., 1909-03-11

may be affirmed In even a more em- navy cannot be fmproyised It must be built and in existence when the emergency arises which calls for It's use and operation. My distinguished predecessor has in many speeches and messages set out with great force and striking language the necessity for maintaining strong navy commensur- ate with the coast line, the govern mental resources and the foreign trade of our nation; and wish to reiterate all the reasons which he has pre- sented in favor of the policy of main taining a strong navy as the best con servator of our peace with other na- tions and the best means of securing respect for the assertion of our rights, the defense of our interests and the exercise of our influence in interna- tional matters.
 Our international policy is always to promote peace. We shall enter into any war with a full conscious ness of the awful consequences that 1t always entails, whether successful every effort, consistent with national honor and the highest national inter est, to avoid resort to arms. We favor every instrumentality like that of The Hague tribunal and arbitration treaties made with view to its use 4r a1l t-ta ct tv. order to maintain peace and to avoid war But we should be blind to ex- isting conditions, and should allow ourselves to become foolish idealists, If we did not realize that with all the nations of the world armed and pre- pared for war, We must be ourselves in similar condition, in order to pre- vent other nations from taking ad vantage of us and of our inability to defend our interests and assert our rights with a strong hand. In the international controversies that are likely to arise In the orient, growing out of the question of the open door and other issues, the United States can maintain her interests intact and can secure respect for her just de- mands. She will not be able to do so, however, if it is understood that she never intends to back up her asser- ion of right and her defense of her interest by anything but mere verbal protest and diplomatic note. For these reasons, the expenses of the army and navy and of coast defenses should always be considered as some thing which the government must pay for, and they should not be cut of through mere consideration of econ omy. Our government is able to af- ford a suitable army and a suitable navy. It may maintain them without the slightest danger to the republic or the cause of free institutions, and fear of additional taxation ought not to change a proper policy in this re- gard
 The policy of the United States in the Spanish war, and since, has given It a position of influence among the nations that 1t never had before, and should be constantly exerted to se- curing to It's bona fide citizens, wheth- -r native or naturalized; respect for them as such In foreign countries. We should make every effort to pre- vent humiliating and degrading pro hibition against any of our citizens wishing temporarily to sojourn in for eign countries, because of race or re- ligion.
 Defect In Federal Jurisdiction.
 The admission of Asiatic immi- grants who can not be amalgamated with our population has been made the subject either of prohibitory clauses in our treaties and statutes. or of strict administrative regulation secured by diplomatic negotiation. sincerely hope that We may continue to minimize the evils likely to arise from such immigration without un- necessary friction and by mutual con sessions between self-respecting gov ernments. Meantime. We must take every precaution tc prevent, or, fail ing that, to punish outbursts of race feeling among our people against for eigners of whatever nationality who have by our grant treaty right to pursue lawful business here and to be protected against lawless assault or injury.
 This leads me to point out serious defect in the present federal jurisdic- ton which ought to be remedied at once. Having assured to other coun- tries by treaty the protection of our laws for such of their subjects or citizens as we permit to come within our jurisdiction, we now leave to state or a city, not under the control of the federal government, duty of performing our international obliga- tions in this respect. By proper legis- lation we may. and ought to. place in the hands of the federal executive the means of enforcing the treaty rights of such aliens in the courts of the fed eral government. It puts our govern .cent in a pusillanimous position to make definite engagements to protect aliens and then to excuse the failure to perform those engagements by an explanation that the daty to keep them Is in states or cities, not within our control. If we would promise. we must put ourselves in a position to perform our promise. We cannot per init the possible failure of justice due to local prejudice in any state or mu nicipal government to expose us to the risk of war which might be