Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-05

1Ha 49,. $50 ~
win the popular approval leads to the
cutting off Of expenditures really needed to
make the government effective, and 10
enable II to accomplish its proper objects,
the result is as much to be condemned as
the waste OF government funds in unneces-
sary expenditure The scope OF a modern
government In what 1t can and ought to
accomplish for its people has been widened
far beyond the principles laid dow by
the old laissez faire school of political
writer's, and this widening has met popu-
lar approval.
In the Department Of Agriculture the use
Of scientific experiments on a large scale,
and the spread OF information derived from
them for the Improvement Of general sgri-
culture, must so on.
Control of the Railroads.
The Importance OF supervising business
OF great railways ana Industrial combina-
tlons, and the necessary investigation and
prosecution Of Unlawful business methods,
are another necessary tax upon govern
ments which did not exist half a century
ago.
The putting into force Of laws which shall
secure the conservation Of our resources,
so far as they may be within the jurisdic-
llOl VI II lGutIdl government INCLUDING
the most important work Of saving and re-
storing our forests and the great improve
ment Of waterways, are all proper gov
eminent functions which must involve large
expenditure IL properly performed. While
some of them, like the Exclamation OF arid
lands,e are made to pay for themselves,
others are of such an indirect benefit that
this eannot be expected of them. A perma-
papt Frnar,,yan,opt M tha Da,o. -z-.1
should be treated as a distinct 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 bene-
fits derived. 1t may well be submitted to
the serious consideration of congress
whether the deepening and control OF the
channel of a great river system, like that
Of the Ohio or the Mississippi. when def
mite and practical plans for the enterprise
have been approved and determined upon,
should not be provided for in the same
way.
Army and Navy support.
Then, too, there are expenditures OF gov
eminent absolutely necessary II our country
Is TO maintain its proper place among the
nations of the world, and is to exercise
AAH proper MlluenCe III QGlenSe OF It's own
trade interests. Ia the maintenance of
traditional American policy against the
colonization Of European monarchies in this
hemisphere, and in the promotion of peace
and international morality. 1 prefer 10 the
cost Of maintaining a proper army, d pro-
per navy and suitable Qualifications upon
the mainland OF the United States and in
its dependencies.
Va should ha,o -, 1n-u z,,.-t-oa
and SO differed. as to be capable in time
of emergency, in cooperation with the ma
tional militia, and under, the provisions of
a proper national volunteer law, rapidly
to expand into a force sufficient to resist
furnish a respectable expeditionary force, il
necessary, in the maintenance of our tradi-
tional American policy which bears the
! name of President Monroe,
Our Notifications are yet in a state OF
only partial completeness, and the number
OF men to man them is insufficient. In a
few years, however, the usual annual APP
preparations 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 provided as
g necessary adjunct. The distance of our
shores from Europe and Asia of course re-
duces the necessity for maintaining under
arms a great army, but II does not take
away the 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.
What has been said of the army may
be affirmed in even a more emphatic way
of the navy. A modern navy cannot be
improvlsed. It must be built and in ex-
istence when the emergency arises which
calls for its use and operation. My dis
tinguished predecessor has in many
speeches and messages set out with great
force and striking language the necessity
for Maintaining a strong navy COM
mensurate 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 q strong navy
as the best conservator Of our peace with
other nations and. the best means of aecur-
ing respect for the assertion OF our rights
the defense of our interests and the ex-
ercise of our influence in international
matters.
international Policy is Peace.
Our International policy is always tC
promote peace. We shall enter into any
war with n full consciousness OF the awfu
consequences that 1t always entails, whether
successful or not, and we, of course, shall
make every effort, consistent with nstiona
honor and the highest national interest, tC
avoid a resort to arms. We favor every in
strumentality, like hat OF The Hagut
tribunal and arbitration treaties made will
a view TO its use in all international con
troversles, In order-to maintain peace anC
TO avoid war. But We should be blind I,
existing conditions. and should allow our
selves to become foolish idealists, II we DID
not realize that with all the nations o.
the world armed and prepared for war, ",
must be ourselves in a similar condition
in order to prevent other nations from TAX
ing advantage OF us and OF our inability Il
defend our interests and assert our rights
with a strong hand In the internationa
controversies that are likely to arise in tn,
orient, growing out OF the question of IN,
open door and other issues, the Unite,
States can maintain It's interests intact an,
can secure respect for its just demands. l
will not be able TO do so. however, If it 4
understood that Il never intends to back N
its assertion OF right and it's defense of IL
Interest by anything but mere verbal pro
test and diplomatic note. For these reasons