Semi-weekly herald., 1909-03-08

: whicn suitable force can quickl,
, grow.
, What has been said OF the arm,
, may be affirmed in even a more EN-
phatic way OF the navy A modern
navy cannot be improvised. II mus,
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 Ian
guage the necessity for maintaining a
strong navy commensurate with the
coast line. the governmental 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 in.
terests and the exercise of our influ-
ence In international matters.
| "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 ef-
fort, consistent with national honor
| and the highest national interest, to
| avoid a resort to arms.
I'VE favor every instrumentality,
like that OF The Hague tribunal and
arbitration treaties made with view
tn Its use In all international contro-
yersies, in order to maintain peace
| and 10 avoid war. But we should be
blind to existing conditions, and
should allow ourselves to become fool
ish idealists. II we did not realize
that with all the nations of the world
armed and prepared for war, we must
be ourselves in similar condition, in
order to prevent other nations from
taking advantage of us and of our
inability to defend our interests and
assert our rights with strong hand.
In the international controversies
that are likely to arise in the lent
growing out of the question of the
open door and other issues. the United
States can maintain her interests In.
| tact and can secure respect for her
just demands. She will not be able to
do so, however, If II is understood
that she never intends to back up her
assertion 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 de
fenses should always be considered as
something which the government must
pay for, and they should not be cut
off through mere consideration for
economy. Our government is able TO
afford suitable army and a suitable
navy. 1t may maintain them without
the slightest danger to the republic
or the cause of free institutions, and
fear of additional taxation ought not
to change a proper policy in this re
gard
The policy of the United States in
| the Spanish war, and since, has given
| 1t a position of influence among the
| nations that 1t never had before, and
should be constantly exerted to Sc
curing 10 its bona fide citizens, wheth-
er native or naturalized. respect for
them 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.
| tries because of race or religion.
"The admission of Asiatic immi-
grants who cannot be amalgamated
with our population has been made
the subject either of prohibitory
clauses in our treaties and statutes
| or of strict administrative regulations
| secured by diplomatic negotiation.
81 sincerely hope that we may con.
tinue to minimize the evils likely to
| arise from such immigration without
| unnecessary friction and by mutual
| concessions between self-respecting
| governments. 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 treaty right to
pursue lawful business here and to
be protected against lawless assault or
injury.
This leads me to point out a seri-
GUS defect in the present federal jur.
isdiction which ought to be remedied
at once. Having assured to other
countries by treaty the protection OF
our laws for such of their subjects OF
citizens as we permit to come within
our jurisdiction, we now leave to q
state or city. not under the contro
of the federal government. 1t puts
our government in pusillanimous po
sition to make definite engagement.
to protect aliens and then to excuse
the failure to perform those engage
ments by an explanation that the dut,
to keep them is In state or cities