The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1909-03-05
ADDRESS Of PRESIDENT TAFT


volunteer Law. rapidly 10 expand into
a force sufficient To resist all prob
able invasion from abroad and to
furnish a respectable expeditionary
| force. If necessary. in the main
flamenco of our traditional American
policy which bears the name OF PTesi-
dent Monroe.
Our Notifications are yet in a state
of only partial completeness and the
number of men 10 man them Is in
sufficient. In a few years, however.
the usual annual appropriations for
our coast defense both on the MAIN
land and in the dependencies, will
make them sufficient 70 resist all
direct attacks. and by that time we
NAV hope that the men 10 man them
will be provided as a necessary adj
iunct. The distance of our shores
from Europe and Asia of course re-
+ duee the necessity for maintaining
under arms great army, but It does
not take away The requirement OF
mere prudence, that we should have
an army sufficiently large and so con-
stitnfed as to form a nucleus out of
which a suitable force can quickly
grow.
What has been said OF army can be
affirmed in even a more emphatic
way of the navy \ modern navy
cannot be improved. IL must be built
and in existence when the emergency
arises which calls for its use and OPP
Grafton. Ny distinguished predeees-
sOr has in many speeches and mess
ages set out with great force and
striking language the necessity for
maintaining a strong navy commen-
surate with the coast line. the gov
ernmental resources and the foreign
trade of our nation: aud | wish 10
reiterate all the reasons which he
has presented in favor OF the policy
of maintaining a strong navy as the
best eonseryator OF our peace with
other nations and the best means of
securing respect for the assertion OF
our rights. the defense of our inter
ests and the exercise of our influence
in international matters. Our inter-
national policy is always to promote
peace. We shall enter into any war
with a full consciousness of the awful
consequences that it always entails,
course. shall make every effort con-
sistent with national honor and the
highest national interest, to avoid a
resort to arms. We favor every in
strumentality like that of the Hague
Tribunal and arbitration treaties
made with a view to its use in all in
ternational controversies, in order to
maintain peace and to avoid war.
But we should be blind TO existing
conditions, and should allow our
solver 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 a similar condition. in order to
prevent other nations from taking adj
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
50. however. IL II is understood that
she never intends to back up her as
sertion 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
something which the government
must pay for, and they should not be
cut on through mere consideration
OF economy. Our government is able
10 afford suitable army and a suit
able navy. II may maintain them
without the slightest danger 10 the
republic OF the cause of free insti-
tutions. and fear of additional taxa
ton ought not to change a proper
policy in this regard.
The policy of the United States in
the Spanish war, and since, has
given II position Of influence among
the nations that it rever had before.
and should be constantly exerted TO
securing TO its bona fide citizens,
whether native or naturalized, re-
spect for them as such in foreign
countries. We should make every
effort to prevent hamiliating and de-
grading prohibition against any OF
our citizens wishing temporarily 70
sojourn in foreign countries because
OF race or religion.
The admission OF Asiatic immi.
I grants who can not be amalgamated
with our population has been made
j the subject either of prohibitory
F. clauses in our treaties and statutes
or of strict administrative regulation
+ secured by diplomatic negotiation.
certainly hope that we may continue
+ TO minimize the evils likely TO arise
: from such immigration without un.
necessary friction and by mutual con
/ cessions between self-respecting gov.
ernments. Meantime, We must take
every precaution to 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 a treaty right Il