East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1915-12-07

our political unity and self-determl
nation is very seriously clouded aH.
complicated indeed.
The Merchant Marine.
Moreover we can develop no raa
or effective American policy aifhou
ships of our own-not ship Of war
but ships Of peace. carrying goods
and carrying much more. creating
friendships and rendering iudispeu-
sable services to an interests on this
side the water They must move
constantly back and forth between
the Americas. They are the only
shuttles that can weave the delicate
fabric of sympathy, comprehension,
confidence, and mutual dependence In
which We wish to clothe our policy
OF America for Americans
The task Of building up an ade-
quate merchant marine for America
private capital must ultimately un-
dertake and achieve, as it has under
taken and achieved every other like
task amongst us in the past with
admirable enterprise. intelligence and
vigor; and it seems to me a manifest
dictate Of wisdom that We should
promptly remove every legal obstacle
that may stand in the way OF this
much to be desired revival Of our old
independence and should facilitate in
eVart- 5,,rgfbla trat fH1 bufI3fug r.vrr
chase and American registration of
ships But capital cannot accom-
plish this great task or a sudden. Ii
must embark upon It by degrees. as
the opportunities Of trade develop
Something must be done at once,
done to open routes and develop Op-
portunities where they are as yet uu-
developed; done to open the arteries
of trade where the currents have
not yet learned TO run-especially be-
tween the two American continents,
where they are ,singularly enough. yet
to be created and qulckened; and il is
evident that only the government can
undertake such beginnings and as
oAillf lllt initial INA llAAal llEhH. NJ ilN 70
the risk has passed and private cap
ltal begins to find its way in suffi-
cient abundance into these new chan
nels, the government may withdraw.
But it cannot omit to begin It
should take the first steps, and
should take them at once our
goods must not lie pied up at our
ports and stored upon side tracks in
freight cars which are daily needed
on the roads; must not be left with
out means OF transport TO any foreign
quarter We must not await the per
mission Of foreign ship-owners dud
foreign governments 10 send them
where we will.
There is another matter which
seems to me to be very intimately as
soeiated with the question Of nation
al safety and preparation for defense,
That is our policy towards the Phil
ippines and the people Of Porto RI.
co. our treatment or them and their
attitude towards us are manifestly OF
the first consequence in the develop
ment Of our duties in the world and
in getting a free hand to perform
those duties. We must be free from
every unnecessary burden or embar-
rassment; and these is no better way
to be clear OF embarrassment than to
fulfill our promises and promote the
interests Of those dependent on us To
the utmost Bills Tor the alteration
and reform of the government of the
Philippines and for rendering fuller
political justice to the people of Por.
10 Rico were submitted to the sixty
third congress. They will be submit
ted also TO you. l need not particu-
larize their details You are most
OF you already familiar with them.
But / do recommend them to your
early adoption with the sincere con-
viction that there are few measures
you could adopt which would more
serviceably clear the way for the
great policies by which we wish to
make good, now and always, our right
to lead in enterprises of peace aud
good will and economic and political
freedom.
The plans for the armed forces of
the nation which | have outlined, and
for the general policy of adequate
preparation for mobilization and de-
tense, involve of course very large adj
ditional expenditures of money-eX-
penditures which will considerably
exceed the estimated revenues OF the
It is made my duty by
law, whenever the estimate of eXpen-
diture exceed the estimates of reve-
nue., to call the attention OF the con-
gress to the fact and suggest any
means Of meeting the deficiency that
it may be wise or possible for me to
suggest. / am ready TO believe that
1t would be my duty to do so in any
case; and l feel particularly bound
to speak of the matter when 1t APP
pears that the deficiency will arise
directly out of the adoption by the
of measures which l myself
urge it to adopt,
l have spoken to you today. gentle
men. upon a single theme, the thor
ough preparation of the nation TO
~M-yIlAAIl