The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-10-19
AMERICA UNASSAILABLE.

A recent book printed in Germany,
''The German Idea Of the World, by
Paul Rohrbach, ought to be comfort
ing to those Americans who affect
fear OF German military invasion OF
this country, fear which is alto
pether baseless. both as a matter OF
sentiment and of practichbility. For,
first of all Germany has no feeling
Of hatred or antagonism against the
United States There are too many
Germans and German families IN the
United States for Germans at home to
have any animosity against this coun-
try; and it is plainly true that Mr.
Rohrbach is entirely correct in saying
that the United States is from a mill
tary standpoint unassailable. Ger
many's leading military position in
Europe would be instantly threatened
i'm case Of her war with the United
states, and those European nations
which are envious OF Germany, and
would only be too glad Of an occasion
to see the German military prestige
lowered, would sec in German war
with the United States the occasion
which they have long desired.
But it must not he assumed, as we
see some newspapers doing, that be-
cause there is no danger Of war with
Germany, therefore we are. not justl-
fled in keeping up sufficient navy
for all possible protection Of our coasts
AS we'll as Of our policies. The Monroe
doctrine must he defended If it is TO
be continued, as it certainly ought to
be, as vital point in American public
policy. it is idle, however. for us 10
aim TO uphold the Monroe doctrine un-
less we intend to defend it in case it is
attacked It would not be necessary
for Germany 10 attack the United
states 10 bring into play the Amer.
icau navy, nor is it Germany alone that
is 10 be defended against in upholding
the Monroe doetriue. That doctrine
is entirely safe as long as we have a
sufficient navy TO make ii undesirable
for any government anywhere in the
world 20 undertake 10 break down the
American policy in supporting that
doctrine Rut if We have an ineffect-
i've, weak navy, then any nation that
secs fit can challenge that doctrine by
actual occupation Of some portion Of
| The American continent not heretofore
occupied by that nation, in defiance Of
/ the traditional attitude Of tho United
! states with respect 10 the policy in
| .soT.a.I L
! for the Monroe doctrine ana don 4 in.
! tend 10 defend il, then for time at
least We would not need much Of a
/ navy; but If VIC are TO allow the en-
croaehmeDt Of foreign control on the
American continent. either North or
South, then il would not be long until
we would be threatened with the full
! power of that nation at our very doors
And so the weakening Of our navy
would only postpone the inevitable dan
ger. IL j. evidently the prudent. thr
Statesmanlike thing, not only TO sup
port the American doctrine in diplo
macy and in declaration. but to make
that support cffcctual by having a navy
that will, in fact, assure the prevalence,
of that doctrine and protect il from
all tranEgresSion.
The recent Lodge resolution, supposed
to have been directed especially against
the imagined naval base of the Jap
ancse at Magdalena Bay, is now saiC
TO have been really directed agains
the Vaccinations OF Germany or som,
other European power IN endeavorin:
20 get naval base that would com
mand the eastern entrance Of the Pan
ama Canal But whatever basis ther,
may have been FOR that resolution, anc
whatever soundncss there NAV bc il
the contention that II is no part Of IN,
Monroe doctrine, IS really it Is not