The Topeka state journal., 1909-03-04

when the desire to win the popular aH-
penditures really needed to make the
government effective, and to enable 1t
TO accomplish Its proper objects, the
result is as much to be condemned as
the waste Of government funds in da-
necessary expenditure. The scope of
modern government in what 1t can
and ought to accomplish for Its people
ciples laid down by the old laissez faire
school of political writer's, and this
widening has met popular approval
In the department of agriculture the
use OF scientific experiments on large
scale. and the spread OF Information
derived from them for the Improvement
Of general agriculture must go on;
The Importance Of supervising bNsl=
ness of great railways and industrial
combinations, and the necessary inves-
tigation and prosecution of unlawful
business methods, are another necss13
eary tax upon government which ala
not exist half a century ago.
Conservation OF Resources.
The putting into force of laws
which shall secure the conservation or
within the Jurisdiction Of the federal
government, including the most IN
portant work of saving and restoring
our forests, and the great Improve.
government functions which must lla-
volve large expenditure IL properly
performed. While some OF thenas Ike
the OF aria Ad41uSP dES AtAeeAS
to pay for themselves, others are OF
such an Indirect benefit that this can
not be expected OF them. a perfna-
nent Improvement. like the Panama
enterprise, and should be paid for by
the proceeds OF bonds, the issue OF
which will distribute Its cost between
the present and future generations IN
accordance with the benefits derived.
1t may we'll be submitted to the seri-
Gus consideration of congress wheth-
er the deepening and control OF the
channel of great river system, Ike
that of the Ohio or of the Mississippi,
when definite and practical plans for
the enterprise have been approved
and determined upon, should not be
provided for in the same way.
Necessary Expenditures.
Then, too, there are expenditures
of government absolutely necessary II
Gus consideration of congress wheth-
place among the nations of the world, 4
and is to exercise it's proper influence
in defense of its own trade interests,
in the maintenance of traditional
American policy against the COLOMBIA
tion of European monarchies IN this
hemisphere, and in the promotion Of
peace and international morality. I
refer to the cost Of maintaining q
proper army, proper navy and suit
able fortihcationS upon the mainland
of the United States and in its de-
pendencies.
We should have an army so organ
lied, and so offcered, as to be capable
in time of emergency in cooperation
the provisions of a proper national vol
unteer law, rapidly to expand into a
force sufficient to resist all probable in
Vasion from abroad and to furnish q re- |
spectacle expeditionary force, if neces-
Sary. in the maintenance of our ira
dftional American policy which bears
the name of President Monroe.
Our fortifications are yet in a state
of only partial completeness and the |
number of men to man them is insult |
ficient. In a 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 win be pro-
vided as a necessary adjunct. The dis
tance of our shores from Europe and |
Asia of course reduces the necessity /
for maintaining under arms great
requirement. of mere prudence, that we
should have an army sufficiently large
and SO constituted as to form a nucleus
out of which a suitable force can
quickly grow.
Need of :. Navy
What has been said of the army may
be affirmed in even a more emphatic
way of the navy. A modern navy can
not be improvised- 1t must be built
and in existence when the emergency
arises which calls for its use and oper-
alton. My distinguished predecessor
has in many speeches and messages
set out with great force and striking
language the necessity for maintaining T.
strong navy commensurate with the
coast line, the governmental resources
and the foreign trade of our nation;
and 1 wish to reiterate all the reasons
which he has presented in favor of the
policy of maintaining a strong navy as |
the best conservator of our peace with I
other nations and the best means of
vii fnT En II
our rights, the defense of our interests
and the exercise Of our influence in in
ternationaI matters.
Our international policy is always to
promote peace. We shall enter into any
war with a full consciousness of the
awful consequences that it always en-
tails, whether successfuI or not. and /
we. or course, shall make every ef-
fort, consistent with national honor
and the highest national interest, to
avoid a resort to arms. We favor
every instrumentality. like that of The
Hague Tribunal and arbitration /
treaties made with view to its use in
all international controversies, in or
der to maintain peace and to avoid
listing conditions. and should allow
ourselves to become foolish idealiSts.
il 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 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 in 1
ternational controversies that are like |
Iy 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 demands |
She will not be able to do so, how
ever, II it is understood that she never |
intends to back up her assertion of |
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