Evening star., 1919-03-16


her allies concentrated in the
grand fleet of the North sea. and
in it rested the determination of
the history. policy and civilization
of the world.
Destiny of the Nation.
This is the law of international
relations. The United States can
not escape from it. If we are to
be true to our heritage and live up
10 the responsibility developing
naturally upon the foundations
laid by Washington and Lincoln.
and ali those sages and patriots
who from generation to genera
ton have established the institu-
tions, wealth and power of the ma
ton, we must operate in accord
ance. with the law of sea power.
We must trade abroad; and
wherever our citizens go on busi-
ness or in the expansion of our
intellectual life, there must go
with them the power and prestige
of American citizenship. There is
only one way that it can go, and
that is by our Navy; and as our
interests increase and our posses
sions are more far-fung, and our
relations with the world moro in
innate and complex, our naval
strength must grow to meet these
expanding demands.
Development of Pacific.
In some respects the greatest and
most interesting developments of
the near future will be in the Pa
cific. Our national house has two
fronts. 1t has been somewhat diff
ficult at times to>arouse our peo-
pie, particularly on the east coast
and in the Mississippi valley. to a
full realization of the fact that the
Pacific coast is not our back door.
but is one Of the front doors.
From it's ports will sail, unless we
fail in our manifest duty. the ar
gosies which will carry the prod
ucts of our industry to the popu-'
lous lands of the east. and bring
DdCh III iCluiu ShoSC @tiithtSA 1oAo
which we will utilize in manufac-
ture or which are needed for our
pleasure or comfort. We have
great national obligations and
possessions in the Pacific. They
add to the variety and richness of
our intellectual. commercial and
industrial development. Our rela-
and crystallized through a genera
ton of successful labor and ad-
ministration. They should not be
disturbed. They cannot be severed
without injury to them and to us.
Navy Cheapest Insurance.
In order to place our interests in
the Pacific upon a safe and COM
Portable and sound basis worthy
of our great republic we must
maintain an adequate naval force
in the Pacific, sufficient to stand
alone for all the needs that, may
there arise. 1t will be the cheap
est insurance and guaranty of the
safety of our interests in that
vast region. With a naval power
in the Pacific that is F;dequate, no
enemy, even though with countless
armies on land. can endanger our
safety. Our interests and our pos
sessions there depend upon sea
power and upon sea power alone.
If an army of tep million men
should be landed and should take
possession an5 fortify itself in the
Philippines Il would be as nothing
unless it were supported by con-
troll of the sea- If we control the
sea, or are able to control 1t, in
case of necessity such hostile
army would be at our mercy. The
possessions Of the Philippines, Of
the Hawaiian islands, Of Guam.
the safety of our commerce with
the rich domain of Siberia or the
countless populations of China or
Japan, and the maintenance of the
ideals and institutions of the
American republic in that section
of the globe, all follow as an easy
and certain corrollary upon an ad- 4.
equate naval force in the Pacific.
This, of course, includes as one of
it's essential elements naval bases
and defenses under the cover of
which our fleets can ref1t and or
ganize at such places as Guam and
other strategic points.