The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-03-06


coast cefcnseS both On the mainland
and IN the dependencies. viii make
them sufficient 60 resist all direct at
tack. and by that time We may hope
that the men 10 man them VIII be pro
vided as necessary adjuact. The
distance Of our shores from Europe
and Asia. OF course reduces the ne
rcssity for maintaining under arms a
great army. but Il does not take away
the requirement Of mere prudence.
that we should have an army sufi-
eleutly large and 50 constituted as to
form a nucleus out Of which a suitable
force can quickly grow.
l.. What has been said OF the army
may be affirmed In even a more en-
phatic way OF the navy. 4 modern
navy cannot be improvised. II must
be built and In existence when the
emergency arises which calls for its
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 commensu-
: rate 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 presented
In favor OF the policy OF maintaining
} strong navy as the best conservator
Of our peace with other nations and
the best means OF securing respect for
! the assertion Of our rights. the defense
Of our interests and the exercise o.
our influence in International matters
Must Arm as Other Nations Dc.
. Our International policy Is always to
promote peace. We shall enter into
any war with 4 full consciousness Of
, the awful consequences that II always
entails. whether successful or not and
we. OF course. shall make every effort.
: consistent with national honor and the
, highest national interest. 10 avoid
resort 10 arms. We favor every instru-
mentality. Ike that Of The Hague tri-
I bunal aud arbitration treaties made
, with a view 10 its use in all interna-
: tional controversies. In order TO main
= tain peace and 10 avoid war But we
, should be blind 10 existing conditions
! and should allow ourselves to become
foolish idcaiiSts II We did NOT realize
! that. with al the nations Of the world
armed and prepared for war, We must
be ourselves In a similar condition In
order 10 prevent other nations from
taking advantage OF US and Of our In
ability 10 defend our interests and as
Ssrt our ri hts with a strong hand.
In the International controversies that
are likely to arise In the orient. grow
ing out Of the question Of the
open door and other issues. the
uitcd States can maintain her inter
ests intact and can secure respect for
1er just demands. She viii not be
able 10 do so. however. II II Is under
stood that she never intends 10 back
M her assertion Of right and her de-
tense Of her interest by anything but
mere verbal protest and diplomatic
note. For these reasons the expenses
N the army and navy and OF coast de-
lenses should always be considered as
something 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 suitable army and a suitable
navy. IL may maintain them without
tie slightest danger TO The republic or
the cause OF free Institutions. and fear
of additional taxation ought not to
'hange proper policy In this regard
Protection Fer Our Citizens Abroad.
The policy OF the United Suites in
tie Spanish war and since has given
IL a position Of influence among the
nations that IL never had before aud
should be constantly exerted to secur-
ing to its bona fide citizens. whether
native or naturalized, respect for them
rs such IN foreign countries. We
should make every effort 70 prevent
humiliating and degrading prohibition
against any OF our citizens wishing
temporarily 70 soiourn in foreign coun-
tries because OF race or religion.
The Japanese Question.
The admission OF Asiatic immigrants
who cannot be amalga mated with our
population has been made the subject
either OF prohibitory clauses in our
treaties and statutes OF OF strict ad.
illustrative regulation secured by din.
lomatic negotiations I sincerely hope
hat we may continue TO minimize the
evils likely TO arise from such immi-
grafton without unnecessary friction
and by mutual concessions between
self respecting governments Mean
time we must take every precaution to
prevent or. falling that, TO punish out
bursts or race feeling among our peo-
pie against foreigners OF whatever M.
donality VINO have by our grant
treaty right 10 pursue lawful business
here and TO be protected against law
less assault or injury.
This leads me to point out a serious
defect I'm the present federal jurisdic-
ton which ought to be remedied at
once. Having assured to other conn
tries by treaty the protection Of our
laws Tor such Of their subjects OF citI-
zens as we permit to come within our
jurisdiction. we now leave 10 a state
or a city not under the control OF the
federal government the duty Of per
Forming oUr international obligations
In this respect By proper legislation
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 federal
government. II puts our government
In pusillanimous position to make
dennite engagements to protect aliens
ana then 10 excuse the failure to per
form those engagements by an expla-
nation that the duty to keep them is in
states or cities not within our control
III we would promise we must put
ourselves In a position to perform our
promise We cannot permit the posi-