The Washington herald., 1911-01-14

foretel. In the railroad across the 18TH
mus of Tehauntepec 1t already has a
strong and successful competitor, furnish
ing a route hundreds of miles shorter
between New Orleans and Hawaii
Would Impose Burden.
In this state of uncertainty as to the
revenue to be derived from the canal we
owe ii to the future that no unnecessary
burden be placed upon it: that every hon.
orable means be employed to save it from
the heavy and perpetual burden which
fortitcation would impose. Such fortifi-
cations in the end would doubtlesS-cost
$50, ,oCo. 900; to maintain them and the nee
essary garrisons would mean an expen-
diture of not less than S, 600 900 a year
The moment the fortifications were COM
pleted we should have before us the prob
lem OF their defense.
THE rapid progress in aeronautics in
recent years justifies the belief that with
enemy to send from one Of his battle
ships an airship which, sailing 10000 feet
above the earth, could drop an explosive
capable of utterly annihilating the pro-
posed fortiications. Says Lieut.. Prosser.
OF the United States army: The use to
which the modern army will put the air
ship and its efficiency as a weapon Of
war uo HOt DcSl1 10 DS TSdllZeO. nor can
they be realized until actually used in
hostile operations 1t would be neces-
sary for US, therefore. to maintain in
connection with the Notifications a fleet
or air war ships and air war ship de-
stroyerS. In short. such fortifications
would be in time of peace a useless ex-
pense and cockpit in time of war. Our
navy. without adding anything to the al
ready enormous demands upon the public
Treasury for military purposes. can fur
nish more adequate, more satisfactory
defense for the canal than could any
fortihcations we could possibly con-
struct.
Preparing to Celebrate.
I'VE are already preparing to celebrate
with Great Britain in 1915 a century Of
peace. I look forward with confidence to
see as the great central feature Of that
celebration the ratification Of a treaty
between these two great English-speak-
ing nations providing for the submission
to such court for judicial decision of
all the differences that may arise between
them. Certain it is that we are entering
upon a new era of international rela-
tions. 1t is coming to be seen that, after
all, a civilized nation is but a group of
civilized men and women. and that such
a group should conduct itself toward all
similaA groups as its own citizens con-
duct themselves toward one another
Never before has the world seen so great
and SO varied and SO far-reaching activ-
ity in behalf Of the peaceful settlement
Of international differences. nor so many
and 80 varied and so influential agencies
enlisted therein
Mr.. Tawney said n per cent Of the
revenues is being spent an
nually on account Of past wars and to
prevent wars In the future. 81 per cent on
the former and 80 per cent on the latter.
In the last ten years. he said, the gov
ernment has spent $2,1s2 S6,5S5 in prepar-
ing for war. an amount only S2,79M
less than the bonded debt incurred by
the government in prosecuting the civil
war and nearly four times as much as
the aggregate fire losses Of the United
States and Canada in the last efghty-five
years, including the losses Of the Chicago,
and other great conflagrations
Depends ON Prosperity.
He said that IL this expenditure had
placed US as q nation in a condition to
.esist successfully the forces of other
nations the American people could afford |
/ II their present prosperity held. But !
le declared that our. military experts !
ind the country lin a deplorable condi- |
ion from the standpoint Of national de- |
CuSc. oAu ouy european /
" Oriental power could cross either ocean |
md successfully invade continental Unit |
ID States
'If." he continued, "the expenditure Of |
wo and a quarter billions In ten years /
inds US in the helpless condition the ad.
rocates Of militarism would have us be.
ieve. what would be the sum total OF |
,ur expenditures II We were to carry out
heir theories?
'.The truth is" he continued. that the
'ocial and economic organization OF the |
world has advanced beyond its politScalI
Indusria1ly. commercially,
md educationaliy We dwell In the word /
4 the twentieth century. Politically We /
Linz to the institutions Of the eighteenth 1
century. Armies and nAviee VIII always i
. necessary for the dischargo Of the
,oiic4 functions Of government. but slah- I
rate ornaments. built 1t 1nugmous cost /
Or tn purpose OF insf1ng internatjonalI
'en6s are rapidly bscomiak. e .they have