Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-11-05

defense. The Navy of the Unueo
States is already very great and ef--
ficientf force Not rapidly. but slow
ly, with careful attention., our
naval force has been developed I'M
til the Navy of the United states
stands recognized as one of the most
efficient and notable of the modern
time. All that is needed in order to
bring it to a point of extraordinary
force and efficiency as compared with
the other navies of the world is that
we should hasten our pace in the pol
icy we have long been pursuing, and
that chief of all we should have def
mite policy of development, not made
from year to year but looking we'll into
the future and planning for a definite
contamination. We can and should
profit in all that we do by the expe-
rience and example that have been
made obvious to US by the military and
naval events of the actual present. 1t
is not merely a matter of building bat
tleships and cruisers and submarines,
but also a matter of making sure that
we shall have the adequate equipment
of men and munitions and supplies for
the vessels we build and intend to
ait VI Jul pAooASAh 40 tAAS
problem of what l may call the mob
ilization of the resources of the nation
at the proper time if it should ever be
necessary to mobilize them for ma
tional defense. We shall study effic-
iency and adequate equipment as care
fully as we shall study the number and
size of our ships. and l believe that
the plans already in part made public
by the Navy Department are plans
which the whole nation can approve
with rational enthusiasm.
Nation Not Threatened
No thoughtful man feels any panic
haste in this matter. The country is
not threatened from any quarter. She
stands in friendly relations with all
the world. Her resources are known
and her self-respect End her capacity
to care for her own citizens and her
own rights. There is no fear amongst
us. Under the new world conditions
we have become thoughtful of the
things which all reasonable men con-
slider necessary for security and self
defense on the part of every nation
confronted with the great enterprise of
human liberty and independence. That
is all.
Is the plan we propose sane and rea
sonable and suited to the needs of the
Hour? Does it not conform to the an
ciert traditions of America? Has any
better plan been proposed than this
programme that we now place before
the country? In it there is no pride of
opinion. II represents the best pro-
fessional and expert judgment of tie
country. But l am not so much inter-
eSted in programmes as | am in~Safe-
guarding at every cost the good faith
and honor of the country, If men diff
! fer with me in this vital matter | shall
ask them TO make it clear how far and
| in what way they are interested in
making the permanent interests of the
country safe against disturbance
In the fulfillment of the pro-
gramme ! propose / shall ask for
the hearty support of the coun-
try of the rank and file of Ameri-
ca, of men of all shades of political
opinion. For my position in this i'm
portant matter is different from that Of
the private individual who is free to
, speak his" own, thoughts and to risk
| his own opinions in this matter We
( eti ( IISit dS6iiIiS Will tHIISS lildl .tIe
vital to the LIE Of America itself In
doing this l have tried TO purge my
! heart of all personal and selfish ms
tives. For the time being. | speak as
the trustee and guardian of a nation s
rights charged with the duty of speak,
ing for that nation in matters involv-
ing her sovereignty nation too big
! and generous to be eXacting and Vet
courageous enough to defend its rights
and. the liberties of its people wherever
| assailed or invaded. l would not feel
that | was discharsinc the solemn OBJ
, legation | owe the country. were l not
to speak in terms of the deepest SOL
cmnity of the trsency and necessity of
preparing ourselves to guard and pro-
tect the rights and privileges of our
people, our sacred heritage of the
fathers who struggled 10 make us an
Independent nation.
Allan Sympathes
The only thing within our own bord-
ers that has given us grave concern
in recent months has been that voices
have been raised in America profess
ing to be the voices of Americans
which We're not indeed and in truth
pathies. which came from men who
loved other countries better than they
loved America. men who were parti-
sans of other causes than that of Am
erica and had forgotten that their chief
and only allegiance was to the great
government under which they live
These voices have not been many but
they have been very loud and very
clamorOus. They have proceeded from
a few who were bitter and who were
grievously misled. America has not
| opened its doors in vain to men and
women out Of other nations. The vast
majority of those who have come to
take advantage of her hospitality have
united their spirits with hers as well
| as their fortunes. These men who
speak alien sympathies are not their
spokesman but are the spokesman of
small groups whom it is high time
that the nation should call TO a reck-
oning. The chief thing necessary in
America in order that she should let
all the world know that she is prepared
| to maintain her own great position is
that the real voice of the nation should
sound forth Enthusiastically and in ma
iS,Sfic Volume in tho door, unison nf q