Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-03-04

cient. in few years. however, the
usual annual appropriations for our
coast defenses. both on the mainland
and in the dependencies, will make
them sufficient to resist all direct at
tack. and by that time we may hope
that the men to man them will be pro-
vided as q necessary adjunct. The
distance of our shores from Europe
and Asia. of course, reduces the ne
cessity- for maintaining under arms a
great army, but it does not take away
the requirement of mere prudence,
that we should have an army suffi-
GENTLY large and so constituted as to
form nucleus out of which suitable
force can quickly grow.
What has been said of the army
may be affirmed in even more en-
phatic way of the navy A modern
navy cannot be ilnprovised. 1t 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 n strong navy commensu-
rate with the coast line, the govern
mental resources and the foreign trade
| of our nation, and l wish to reiterate
all the reasons which he has presented
| in favor of the policy of maintaining
a strong navy as the best conservator
! cf 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 of
our influence in international matters.
Must Arm as Other Nations Do.
Our international policy is always to
promote peace. We shall enter, into
any war with full consciousness of
! the awful consequences that it always
! entails, whether successful or not, and
we, of course. shall make every effort,
consistent with national honor and the
| highest national interest, to avoid a
resort to arms. We favor every instru-
mentality. like that of The Hague tri-
bunal and arbitration treaties made
! with u view to its use in all interna-
tional controversies, in order to main
tain peace and to avoid war. But we
should be blind TO existing conditions
i and should allow ourselves to become
| foolish idealists If we did not realize
that. with all the nations of the world
armed and prepared for war, we must
| be ourselves in a similar condition In
order to prevent other nations from
taking advantage of us and of our in
ability to defend our interests and as
sert our rights 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
) United States can maintain her inter
ests intact and can secure respect for
her just demands. She will not be
able to do so, however If it is under
stood that she never intends to back
up 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
OF 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 off
through mere consideration of econ
omy. Our government is able to at
ford suitable army and q suitable
navy. 1t may maintain them without
the slightest danger to the republic OF
the cause of free institutions, and fear
of additional taxation ought not to
change proper policy in this regard
Protection For Our Citizens Abroad.
The policy of the United States in
: the Spanish war and since has given
nations that it never had before and
should be constantly exerted to secur
ing to its bona fide citizens, whether
native or naturaliZed, respect for then
as such in foreign countries. We
should make every effort to prevent
humiliating and degrading prohibition
against any of our citizens wishing
temporarily to sojourn in foreign coun
1 tries because Of race or religion.
The Japanese Question.
The admission of Asiatic immigrant!
who cannot be amalgamated with ou
population has been made the subjec
. either of prohibitory clauses in oul
=
illustrative regulation secured by dip
. lomatie negotiations. l sincerely hop,
that we may continue to minimize tn,
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 t
prevent or, failing that, to punish out
bursts of race feeling among our pee
pie against foreigners Of whatever ma
. tionality who have by our grant
7. treaty right to pursue lawful bushes
!. here and to be protected against law
:. less assault or inj,'
This leads me TO int out a seriou
!, defect in the present federal jurisdi,
:, ton which Ought to be remedied a
once. Having assured to other cour
! tries by treaty the protection of Gu
laws for such Of their subjects or cit
zens as we permit to come within on
: Jurisdiction, we now leave to q stat
or city not under the control of th