The Cost of Colonial Expansion
In a recent editorial the Washington Post gives some quotations on the prospective financial cost of the colonial policy under which the United States has acquired and holds the Philippines and its other island possessions. The Washington correspondent of the New York Evening Post recently inquired of a naval officer: “How many battle-ships will eventually satisfy the navy?” The answer was: “Seventy;” and the authority consulted, proceeded to make the necessary disposition of seventy-two battle-ships,—sixteen on the Atlantic coast, twenty-four on the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, sixteen on the Pacific coast, and sixteen in the Philippines. The Springfield Republican, noting this highly suggestive estimate of the sea power that would “satisfy the navy,” says: “Seventy battle-ships would cost, at prevailing figures, about $550,000,000; more rather than less. It is interesting to note that before we went a-world-powering, a naval board laid down a comprehensive plan of our desirable naval strength, and placed our needs at just ten battle-ships. Times have changed since then, and the contrast is striking.” The Post thinks there can be no occasion for such a great increase in the naval force as is here suggested; but it might be interesting and pertinent to inquire how great an increase in the size of armies and navies the nations of Europe thought would be sufficient when they began the program of armaments which has made Europe to-day a vast military camp. Did they expect to pay the price which they have paid since then to maintain their military standing? And who can count the cost that will follow when this nation enters the field of military rivalry with the world powers? A great navy now seems to be demanded to defend the nation’s colonial possessions. The creation of a large standing army will naturally follow; and with these must come a heavy and permanent increase in the burden of taxation. But this is of interest chiefly as showing how the “spirit of the times,” which Jefferson predicted would be altered, has changed and is changing at the present time.