The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-05-06
ROOSEVELT'S PLEA
FOR FIRST CLASS
FIGHTING NAVY
Former President,as Editor,
States that Hand in Hand
With Policy of Good Will
Towards Foreign Nations
Should Be the Upbuilding
of the Navy. 9
In Regard to japanese I'm
migration National Cow
eminent Should Be Allow
ed t6Carry Out Principles
Which Are to the Mutual
Benefit of Both Nations.
Especial from United Press.)

especial from united PreSS.)
New York, May GIVE have the
right to say what immigrants shall
come to our Shores declared former
President, now Editor Theodore Roose-
welt, in an inspiring article in the cur
rent Outlook, ''but we are powerless
to enforce this right against any ma
ton that chooses to disregard our
wishes unless we continue to build up
and maintain a first class fighting ma
wy
This, the first signed editorial article
prepared by the former president on
current political topics, is character
istically Roosevelt document, discus
sing at length the developments in the
Japanese question. Both sides are CIV
en-, while incorporated in the whole
is "a powerful plea for a greater navy.
In part the former president says:
There are certain elementary prin-
ciples, all Of which should be kept
steadily in view if a nation wishes to
act justly both by itself and by 9TH
ers. 1t must insist upon what is nee
essary for it's own healthy life, and
this even at the cost of a possible
clash; but this insistence on what is
due to itself should always be accom-
panied by all possible courtesy to and
fiar dealing with others.
"These are the principles on which
the people of the United States should
act as regards the question of the i'm
Of the japanese into this
The Japanese are a highly
civilized people Of extraordinary mill
tary, artistic and Industrial develop
ment; they are proud, warlike and SEN
sitive. I believe that our people have,
what I personally certainly have, a
profound and hearty admiration for
them. But this admiration and res
pect is accompanied by the firm con-
viction that it is not for the advantage
of either people that emigrants from
either country should settle in mass in
the other country.
1.-THE Americans who go to japan
and the Japanese who come to Amer
lea should be of the same general class
that is, they should be travellers,
students, teachers scientific investiga-
tors, men engaged in business, men
so tourning in the land for pleasure or
study.
.''It is against the interests of both
nations that unrestricted immigration
Or settlement in mass should be al
lowed as regards either nation. This is
the cardinal fact in the situation; it
should be freely recognized by both
countries.
s.But in achieving this policy we
should bear steadily in mind that it is
our duty to combine the maxim of eff
1ciency with the minimum of often
,iveneSS. Only the national govern
nent can carry out such a policy eff
harm is for state, municipal or other
ocal governments to pass laws, which
would be ineffective to obtain the real
object and yet would produce intense
irritation. The best of all possible
ways in which to achieve this object
s. that which the governments of the
.wo countries have now by common
agreement adopted; for the Japanese
government has on it's own initiative
md of it's own accord undertaen to
prevent the coming hither in any ap-
,reciable numbers Of Japanese of the
classes. The
success Of the policy must be gagged
~ it's actual results.
eff the Japanese government proves
Unable to carry it's policy through,
hen undoubtedly this government, by
reaty or by legislation. must protect
tself. But in such case it would be
Lction in the way that would provoke |
he least possible friction and cause |
he least possible hard feeling.
1.-The fact that all really patriotic |
md far sighted Americans insist that |
land in hand with a policy of good
viii toward foreign nations should go |
he policy of the upbuilding of our ma
" is often interpreted by well mean
ng but short-sighted men as being q
hreat toward other nations, or as be-
ag provocative Of war. OF the two as
Jump tons, the first is utterly unwar-
antsd, and the second the direct re-
erse of the truth. We have the right
D say, for instance. what immigrants
hall come to our shores, but we are
owerless to enforce this right against
ny nation that chooses to disregard
ur wishes, unless we continue to
uild up and maintain a first class
ghting navy. 7" We Americans
urselves are both proud and high
pirited and we are not by any means
ar sighted. If our honor or our in
srests were menaced by foreign
over this nation would fight, wholly
-ithout regard to whether or not its
avy was efficient. In the event of a
-isis arising, the peace advocates who
bject to- our building up the navy
-ould be absolutely powerless to pre-
emit this country from going to war.
II they could do would be to prevent !
s being successful IN the war. A
.rong navy is the surest guaranty of
eace that we can have, and the
heapest insurance against war that !
ncIe Sam can possibly pay