Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1916-07-08

gress lived up to its duty as patriot'c
citizens and statesmen and did not
hesitate to vote funds for the up
building and support OF the Navy
which had made such glorious rec;
ord. From 1898 to 1905 Congress
contracted for, on an average, iour
armored ships each year. me Close
of 1905 found us with twenty-five
battleships, or ships OF the first lineI
"a they are called. Compared WIN
the German navy ut that time, we
had twenty-five battleships against
Germanys twenty. While the total,
gun.energy Of our vessels was little.
less than four-million foot'tons as
against little less than two million
foot.tons for tho German navy. This
expressed tho fighting strength OF
the whole OF the American and Ger,
man fighting vessels at that time.
Then, this country could say. with
feeling OF confidence, excepting,
Great Britain. we are prepared 10,
meet any navy on tho seas with posi-
tive assurance for our success And'
there Is not now, nor has there Deen
for the last century the slightest'
probability OF our clashing with tho,
British empire. Because OF hor Ca
madam possessions, England 10 as
much Interested In maintaining and
enforcing the Monroe Doctrine as Is
tho United States, "The London
Times" was recently quoted us hay
Ing said regarding tho question
| -.
position endorsing tho Monroe Doc1
trlne, No, the thing ia unthinkable,
that II America did not have Mon
roe Doctrine England would formu'
late and enforce one. But the tragi
edy OF this thing n tho way In which
wo have lost our position as World
Naval Power. In fact, exactly ex'
changing positions with Germany. go,
that now we arc forced TO admit that
Germany Is tho Second Greatest Ma
val Power" while we are danger.
ously near fourth place. II occurred
In this way: In the year 1905 the
Dreadnought battleship was intro
duced by Great Britain: Germany.
France and Italy were quick 10 fol-
low the example OF England. We al
30 followed. but TO q far less do
gree than did Germany Now these
great sea monsters arc 40 incompar.
ably superior TO the old.timo battle.
ship. or prodreadnougbt. as II was
called. that all such old vessels were
retired TO second battle line because
OF their utter powerlessness to stand
In the procession OF these greater
fighting vessels. SO Il practically
meant starting anew 10 build a FIRST.
class Meet. And this IA whore Ger
many has outstrlppcd US about two
TO one. as ! will show; this was boz
cause our Congress refused TO appro.
pirate money for the building OF these
vessels and keep pace with our rap.
Idly growing world power. on tho
ground that wo were an Isolated M.
ion and did not noed a great Navy:
also. on tho grounds o, economy. nj.
though tho same men. and az tho
same time. have been voting away
within the last ton years millions OF
dollars for rivers and harbors and
Tor public buildings and for pensions.
During all those years. Mr.. Hardy
has boon persistent LITTLE
NAVY man." And because OF
tho false economy.idoa men, IA
Mr.. Hardy and his kind. wo
ind our Nation ono hundred per
cent weaker hs sea power
than Is Germany, who IL admittedly
our greatest rival In many respects,
and tho very nation with which our
diplomatic relations nre hanging, like
Tho sword OF Damoolos, by tho most
brittle thread imaEinablo-so frail. In
TACT. that the bullAoadodnoss or
oyerzoalousnes OF q German subma.
Sne commander could plunge us Into
war with His Malosty's forces To
'Sow you the forcefulnesa OF these
.wo facts, ] viii place their flrst.llne
lighting ships. or tholr dreadnouEhts,
along beside those OF our own Ma,
ioni Today Germany's frst nghtlng
Inc consists OF twentysix ships. The
.otal energy OF tho muETlo OF all
runs on those ships being over thir,
zen million foottons. as compared
With the American first nghtlngllno
~ only twelve actually completed
Hips. Tho gunonorgy OF these
'wolye ships IA something over seven
million foottons, or n Mtlo over ono.
lalf the strength Of tho German
ieet No that there Il today ona
ioet, that OF France, which IL about
.lual TO that OF tho United States.
icrmany's navy has moro than twice
Is many drcadnough,s, mounting
more than twice "a many armor,
piercing guns, whose total cnorsy IA
limos, twice that OF our own navy.
Now, this Ia tho way vo arc pro.
,arcd today my friends. And Mr..
Hardy says We are amply prepared
20 dolcnd ourselves. AZ least no hAa
ieed all hls influence 10 block tho
Efforts OF President Wilson 10 nut
his Nation In state OF proparod,
less for any crisis that may come
This, mr. friends. Is the reason ask
rou to ropudia,o Mr., Hardy, because
10 has rcpudlatei tho leadership Of
he greatest President We have haa
TOR almost ono hundred years, bo,
nauso he falls 10 DO In accord with
tho Democratic administration M tba
most critical time no could posslbly
have chosen 10 pull backward In tha
harness Instead OF pulling forward,
You all remember him In isp6. whom
ne eol'cd the party and l,s National
nominees and stumpcd tho State OF
Ie,ss Tor Palmer and nucknor, liza
stabbed the party In the back IN liz
dfest hour Of need and lon n A
political dcrpllct uno,, N. ttA -