The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-12-07

political unity and self determination
is very seriously clouded and compli
Gated indeed.
Moreover. we can develop no tru,
or effective American policy withou
ships of our own-not ships of war
but ships of peace. carrying goods anC
carrying much more: creating friend
ships and rendering indispensable ser
vices to all interests on this side thu
water. They must move constant!
back and forth between the Americas
They are the only shuttles that cal
weave the delicate fabric of sympathy
confidence, and mu
tual dependence in which we wish t.
clothe our policy of America fol
The task of building up an ado
quate merchant marine for Amer
lea private capital must ultimate
ly undertake and achieve. as it
has undertaken II q achieved
every other like task amongst us
in the past, with admirable en-
terpriSe, intelligence, and vigOr;
and it seems to me a manifest die
tate of wisdom that we should
promptly remove every legal OBJ
Stacle that may stand in the way
of this much to be desired revival
of our old independence and
should facilitate in every possible
way the building. purchase. and
American registration of ships
But capital cannot accomplish
this great task of n sudden. 1t
must embark upon it by degrees,
as the opportunities of trade de-
velop. Something must be done
at once; done to open routes and
develop opportunities where they
are as yet undeveloped: done to
open the arteries of trade where
the currents have not yet learned
to run-especially between the
two American continents. where
they GiuOrTInrIy nr1OUOh vef n
be created and quicllcned; and it
is evident that only the govern
ment can undertake such Begin
nfngS and assume the initial fl
nanciaI risks. When the risk has
passed and private capital begins
to find its way in sufficient album
dance into these new channels
the government may withdraw.
But it cannot omit to begin. 1t
should take the first steps, and
should take them at once. Our
goods must not lie piled up at our
ports and stored upon side tracks
in freight cars which are daily
needed on the roads: must not be
left without means of transport to
any foreign quarter. We must not
await the permission of foreign
Ship-Owners and foreign govern
mentS to send them where we
will.
With a view to meeting these press
ng necessities of our commerce and
lvailing ourselves at the earliest posi-
Die moments of the recent unparalleled
of linking the two Amer
cas- together in bonds of mutual in
crest and service, an opportunity
which may never return again if we
Miss it now, proposals will be made
o the present Congress for the pur-
.hase or construction of ships to be
,wned and directed by the government
imilar to those made to the last Con-
;ress, but modified in some essential
PARTICULARS. 1 recommend these pro-
,osals to you for your prompt accept
Lnce with the more confidence be-
ause every month that has elapsed
ince the former proposals were made
las made the necessity for such action
more and more manifestly imperative
That need was then foreseen; it is now
-cutely felt and everywhere realized
~ those for whom trade is waiting but
Who can find no conveyance for their
foods. am not so much interested
n the particulars OF the program as
am in taking Immediate advantage
f the great opportunity which awaits
IS If we will but act in this emergency.
n this matter. as in all others, a spirit
f common counsel should prevail
nd out of it should come an early
olution of this pressing problem.
There is another matter which
GEMS to me to be very intimately as
ociated with the question of national
afety and preparation for defense.
hat is our policy towards the Philip
ines and the people of Porto Rico.
,ur treatment of them and their attl-
ude towards US are manifestly of the
lrst consequence in the development
f our duties in the world and in get
ing a free hand to perform those
uties- We must be free from every
burden or embarrass-
lent; and there is no better way to be
lear of Embarrassment than to full
il our promises and promote the in
erests of those dependent on us to the
tmost. Bills for the alteration ana
eform Of the government of the Phil
1pines and for rendering fuller polit-
al justice to the people of Porto
leo were submitted to the Sixty-third
Congress-. They will be submitted also
} you. I need not particularize their
etails. You are most of you already
amiliar with them. But 1 do recon-
lend them to your early adoption
18th the sincere conviction that there
re few measures you could adopt
-hich would more serviceably clear
ne way for the great policies by
-hich we wish to make good, now and
ways, our right to lead in enterprises
peace and good will and economic
nd political freedom.
The plans for the armed forces
of the nation which i have out
lined. and for the general policy
of adequate preparation for mob
iHzatiOn and defense, involve of
course very large additional ex-
pendfturcS of money-expendi-
lures which will considerably cX-
coed the estimated revenues of
the government. 1t is made my
duty by law. whenever the esti-
mates of expenditure exceed the
estimates of revenue, to call the
attention of the Congress to the
fact and suggest any means of
meeting the deficiency that it may
be wise or possible for me to sug-
gcst. 1 am ready to believe that
1t would be my duty to do SO in
any case: and feel particularly
bound to speak of the matter
when it appears that the def
cheney will arise directly out of
the adoption by the Congress OF
measures which / myself urge it
to adopt. Allow me therefore. to
speak briefly of the present state
of the Treasury and of the fiscal