The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1915-07-13
No Place In Partvis711!

4NO IOJdCH LII Il dI lVJSHt!
INATIONN. defense is not party issue in any
~ country and it certainly should not become
: party issue in America Nevertheless if it is
made the dominant issue of the next national cam
paign the kind of democracy personifed by Mr..
Bryan must be held responsible for this result.
| For number of years prior to 1910 both the
great political parties had sustained the gradual
increase Of the navy and the completion and equip
ment of our sea coast defenses. In that year on
questions with which the national defense had
nothing to do the Democratic party, in which Mr..
Bryan was then the most commanding figure, Sc
cured control of the national house of represent
tatives. A sinister change in American naval and
military affairs Immediately occurred. From two
battleships year the naval authorization fell to
one year, and there was formidable movement
in the house cut off even that one The earnest
recommendation of the general board, represent
ing the best, the most advanced thought in the
American navy for four capital ships was not only
dsregarded but it was derided as the extravagant
demand of "jIngoism." There was also sharp
deduction in the provision for destroyers for aux
iaries and for submarines.
/ A few Middle West Republican congressman,
whose particular rooftrees were remote from over
seas attack, opposed the Strengthening of the navy
Just, as they had persstently opposed the restora
ton of the American merchant marine, with the
illuminating excuse that there is nothing in it
for Minnesota and Nebraska.
The great bulk Of the vote for only battle
ship for no battleships cast by the char
acteristic following Of Mr., Bryan, by rural "one-
gallus" Democratic statesmen from the South and
West These are the men whoAaEe accountable
for the fact that the United States IDA few years
had fallen from the second naval power in the
world to the third and fourth without battlecrus-
ers, with too few deStrOyers, with too few sub
marines, with only one-half of the dreadnoughts
possessed by Germany, whose war fleet a Aalf
dozen years ago was inferior ~ our own in amoA>
etefs P4hieu3t add notably,in ships of great size
And guns OF heavy 'calibre. Nj Bryan and his in.
land Democrats are the men who are primarily
Irresponsible for our appropriateness today on land
and sea
No blame whatever rests upon military and
naval officers for Qpr present state OF unprepared
ness For the navy, the General Board has recon-
mended that should have IN 1920 fOrty-eight
capital battleships-super-dr eadnoughts; we have
thirty of all classes less than twenty years
old The general board also recommended one
hundred and ninety-two destroycrs; We have sixty
eight Fully II 900 men would be necessary to
man our present naval force, according to the gen
era staff figures; we have $1,000 General Wood
i'll the latter days Of his inCumbcncy of the office
N chel OF stan OF the Army appeared before the
military affairs committee OF the house on which
several Bryan followers have the deciding vote
and testified al great length to the intolcrabc def
ClcnCleS OF the army in the matter OF artillery
ammunition. Secretary Stm>un and his successor,
Mr.. Garrison, have appeared before the same con-
gress and emphasized the immediate needs of the
Amy to place it in anything approaching pre-
parcdness for war.
1t has been expert testimony against Bryan
Democracy, and the Bryan Democracy has-tem-
porary-wOn in the national congress- This issue
is not Of Repu ,Iican making, but it is inevitable
that ii is going to prove OF immense practical ad-
vantage to the Republican side in the national cam
paign of 1916.
Mr. Bryan has quit the Cabinet and the Admin
the mischief he has wrought will live after him
There is every indication that Mr. Bryan's OPP
position to the taking "f steps to assure the inst-
utng Of adequate national defenses will seriously
mbarrass the Administration. There were album
LIANT signs that the matter need not become a
political issue. MIR Bryan will sail to his stand
Ird his large following i'll the South and West and
will doubtless array himself against even the
modest preparedness program that the Presidents
military and naval secretaries will propose to the
next congress.
Whatever the next Democratic program NAV
contain, the party will have to pay the penalty of
90 long including in its ranks the bulk and the
Dlttcrest of the foes OF adequate preparedness.