The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-11-21
R00SEvElTS
EIGHTH LESSON
Advocates Severance All Rela-
lions With the Philippines.
Says Present Administration
Has Committed Us.
THE NAVY RIGHT ARM OF PEACE

THE NAVY RIGHT ARM Of PEACE
Must COnfine Ourselves Elk.
Guiding Philippines
To Defense Our Own Coasts,
Alaska, Hawaii and Panama.
nth, eighth OF q series OF articles by
Col. Roosevelt on the Lessons for the
American people in the European war.1
The course of the present admins
tration in foreign affairs has now and
then combined officiously offensive
action toward foreign powers with
tame submission to wrong-doing by
foreign powers. Az q nation we have
refused to do our duty to others and
yet we have at times tamely submitted
to wrong at the hands OF others. This
has been notably true of our conduct
in Mexico; and We have come peril
Japan. 1t II also true Of our activities
~ regards the European war;. We
failed to act In accordance with our
obligations as a signatory power to the
Hague treaties. At tho same time, by
certain manifestos issued by the adj
which congress passed. we took posi-
tons in regard to our shipping rights
which there was grave reason for GER
tain neutral powers to question:; mas
much as these positions were adverse
to their interests, and inasmuch as it
was at least doubtful whether they
were warranted by the principles of
real neutrality. But when a neutral
nation, having been thus provoked by
our own improper action itself acted
T. Lott ~
ships the administration tamely sub
. mitted.
OF course 1t would be a base and ig-
noble action on our part, after having
conspicuously failed to protest against
the violation of Belgian neutrality to
show ourselves Over-eager to protest
violations OF our own neutral rights.
But we should never have put our
selves in such a position as to make
fnsistence on our own rights seem dis
regard for the rights Of others. The
proper course for US to pursue was,
on the one hand scrupulously to see
that we did not so act as to tnJure
any contending nation, unless required
to do SO in the name OF morality and
OF our solemn treaty obligations. and
also fearlessly to act on behalf OF
other nations which were wronged.
as required by these treaty obligations;
and on the other hand with court
eous firmness to warn any nation
which, for instance. seized or searched
DUR ships against the accepted rules OF
International conduct, that this we
could not permit, and that such a
course should not be perse*efeA In by
any nation which desired our gooo
! will. believe I speak for at least a
considerable portion of our people
when I say that weeswishs TON it
evident that we feel sincere good will
toward all natious:S that any action
we take against any nation IL taken
with the greatest reluctance ana only
because the wrong doing OF that ma
full. duty upon US: and yet that we 40
not intend ourselves to submit to
wrong-doing from any nation.
Must Exclude Philippines.
Until an efficient World League for
Peace is in mGre than mere process OF
formation. the United states must oe-
pend upon itself for protection where
its vital interests are concerned. All
the youth of the nation should be
trained in warlike exercises and In the
use of arms, as we'll as IN the mus
pensable virtues sof courage. yself-re-
fnr national defense. But the right arm
Of the nation must be Its navy. Our
navy il our most efficient peacemaker.
In order to use the navy effectively we
should clearly define to ourselves the
policy we intend to follow and the linn
tn over which we expect our power to
extend. Our own coasts. Alaska. da-
waI and the Panama canal and its ap-
breaches should represent the sphere
in which we should expect to be able
single-handed to meet and master any
opponent.
1 exclude the Philippines. This is
because I feel that the present admin
iotration has definitely committed us
to q course Of action which may very
probably make the early and complete
eeyerance of the Philippines from us
not merely desirable but necessary.
have never felt that the Philippines
were of any special use to us. But
/ have felt that we had great task
to perform there and that a great ma
tion is benefited by doing a great task
It was our bounden duty to work pri-
marily for the interests of the Filipinos.
but 1t was also our bounden duty. in
-asmuch as the entire responsibility lay
upon US. to consult our own judgment
ana not theirs in finally deciding what
was to be done. 1t was our duty to
govern the islands or to get out OF the
islands. 1t was most certainly not our
duty to take the responsibility OF stay
ing in the islands without governing
them. Still less was it-or is tour
duty to enter into joint arrangements
with other powers asout the islands;
arrangements of confused responsible
ity and divided power Of the kind sure
TO cause mischief. I had hoped that
We would continue to govern the islands
until we were certain that they were
able to govern themselves in such
Fashion as to do justice to other ma
ktfons and to repel injustice committed
ON them by other nations. To substi-
4ute for such government by ourselves
either a government by the Filipinos
with us guaranteeing them against out
5siders. or a joint guarantee between
5rs and outsiders. would be folly. 1t is
desirable to guarantee the
ljfv IF small -CiyiH1Nd natiOnN
(which have a high social and cultural
status and which are SO advanced that
khey do not fall into disorder or COM
init wrong-doing on others. But it is
<eminently undesirable to guarantee the
neutrality or sovereignty Of an inner