Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-06-03

Citations in advancing the welfare OF
the Navy and keeping the public in
formed of its true aims and purposes
and its necessary needs Is entirely
welcome and thoroughly to be com
mended. The officers of the Navy are
given the fullest latitude in expressing
their views before their fellow cit
liens. subject, of course, TO the re-
quirements of not betraying those con-
fidential affairs which would be detri
mental to the service. 1t seems to
me perfectly proper for any one upon
any suitable occasion to advocate the
maintenance of a Navy in keeping
with the greatness and dignity of our
country. But as one who is respon.
sible not only for our national de
Tense. but likewise our friendly rela-
tons with other peoples and our title
to the good opinion of the world.
feel that the occasion will very sell
dom arise. and / know 1t does not
now exist, when those connected with
our Navy are justified, either directly
or by inference, in asserting that
other specified powers are arming
against us, and by arousing national
suspicion and hatred attempting to
cause US to arm against them.
The suggestion that any other
people are harboring hostile intent
lo"alu IL very ScIiOuS ttlai &c
to make. We would not relish hav.
ing our honorable motives and peace
full intentions questioned; others can
not relish having any of us question
theirs. We should not forget that
in the world over the general attitude
and one of the strongest attributes
of all peoples is desire to do right.
Unless we lay our course in accord
ance with this principle, the great
power for good in the world with
which we have been intrusted by a
a power for evil. We shall make
no progress and be of no benefit 10
ourselves or to any one else.
An Adventure i'm Faith.
I'm a recent address made by Am
bassador H0uGhton. who represents
US at the Court of ST. James, he
gave utterance to a great truth most
admirably expressed when he said that
peace is an adventure in faith That
was a thought most appropriate to
these times. The chief reliance of
the world is faith. We cannot main
tain any of our necessary relations
without it. 1t is one of those first
things which must be put first. 1t
is one of the main elements of the
organization or discipline, or what
would be the result in battle if the
officers and men did not cherish an
almost absolute faith in each other?
Such a sentiment of course will be
justified only by the knowledge that
there exists in each of us qualities
which are worthy of our trust and
confidence. I want the Navy when
IL attempts to deal with our own
people. or with the other peoples of
the earth, to remember that the domi-
nant traits of mankind are truth and
justice and righteousness, and that
the appeal to reason must ultimately
prevail. l am not arguing that there
is no evil in the world. We are pain
fully aware that it is altogether too
prevalent. But we shall make no
progress unless we do more than un-
dertake to recompense evil with evil.
We must make our appeal to the
greater realities. We must put the
emphasis not upon the false, but upon
the true not upon corruption and
treachery. but upon purity and honor.
Local and national faith must be ex-
tended to international faith.
1T is in accordance with these prin-
ciples which are so clearly sound that
we base our belief in the ability of
nations to compose their differences
by negotiation, by arbitration and by
the judgments of duly constituted
courts 1t is under this conception
that we try to disarm and mutually
agree to place limits on the extent of
military preparation. Man is a rea-
sonable being and finally reason must
assert itself. We must make our
choice between holding to this theory
or holding that our only reliance must
be placed on armed force. Carried TO
it's logical conclusion, that means more
and more ornaments, more and more
hatreds and suspicious, return to
the old plan of direct competition in
military preparation with the GER
tainty that as soon as the world can
arm and prepare itself after one war
1t will be plunged into another.
Mere Force Impotent.
Il am not unfamiliar with the claim
that If only we had a sufficient military
establishment no one would ever mo-
lest us. l know of no nation in his.
tory that has ever been able to attain
that position. l see no reason to ex-
pect that we could be the exception.
Although I believe thoroughly in ade.
quate military preparations, what !
am trying to argue is that they are
not sufficient unto themselves. 1 do
not believe the American Navy can
succeed if it represents mere naked
force. 1 want to see it represent much
more than that. We must place 1t on
a much higher plane. We must make
it an instrument of righteousness. II
we are to promote peace on earth, we
must have a great deal more than the
power of the sword. We must call into
action the spiritual and moral forces
of mankind.
THE world moves forward under a
reign of law. Our own great Admiral
Dewey, the hero of Manila Bay, be.
ing approached one time with the sug.
gestion that he become a candidate for
office, was asked what platform he
would adopt. He replied, THE Con
stitution and the flag" BY that he
meant law and loyalty. You will stand
peculiarly as the guardians of that
great instrument, as supporters OF
remember the provision of the sixth
article, which declares that This Con
stitution and the laws of the United
States, which shall be made in DUR
suance thereof; and all treaties made
or which shall be made, under the au
thority of the United States, shall be
the supreme law of the land" Acting
in accordance with this supreme Law
of the land. through their duly con
stituted Government, your fellow citi
zens are committing into your keeping
the solemn and sacred duty of guard
ing and preserving the integrity oil
the law of the land and of defending
and increasing the honor and glory oil
the national colors. When the com
mendations of your fellow country
men shall come to you, when you shall
have won worldwide fame by the
faithful discharge of your duty in the
service of your country, when In youl
declining years you shall seek for the
last best refuge of human freedom
may your life experience inevitably