NOT A PEACEFUL PROSPECT.
By G.
SOME people, and especially heads of governments and their counselors, would have the world believe that the way to keep peace is to prepare for war. But nations are very much like individuals, because a nation is an aggregation of individuals, and the aggregation does not change the nature. Now it is true that many a murder has been committed on the spur of the moment, because an individual happened to have a weapon at hand, when otherwise a little more caution or a second thought would have avoided a deed which only brought costly trouble. Laying aside the possibilities of the warlike attitude in the Orient, in which all the so-called great Powers are interested, it is interesting to note the preparation of the United States Government for naval warfare—a preparation that was contemplated even before this Eastern complication took shape. According to official reports, "warships aggregating a cost of $100,000,000 are to be built for our navy as soon as contractors are prepared to undertake their construction. The new program calls for eleven armored ships, which will practically double our present sea power in this class; and in addition to these there are to be three highly-improved cruisers of the Olympia type, and Congress appropriated $18,000,000 for the hulls and machinery of five battle-ships, and bids have been solicited for their construction. The plans for the six armored cruisers, which are to be more powerful than any ship at present in service, and are to cost for hulls and machinery alone over $25,000,000, will probably be finally approved next month. The Navy Department is also about to solicit bids for 35,000 tons of armor, the cost of which will amount to between $17,000,000 and $19,000,000. The complete program for the new vessels authorizes contracts for hulls and machinery amounting to $51,900,000. This includes five battle-ships at $3,600,000 each, six cruisers at $4,250,000 each, and three improved cruisers at9$2,800,000. The battle-ships are to be of nearly 16,000 tons displacement, which is over 5,000 tons heavier than the Oregon, and are to be 100 feet longer than that vessel, with at least three knots better speed. The cruisers are to be 14,000 tons, 23 knots speed, and 8,000 knots steaming radius, which is greater than that of any vessel of the same class at the present time. These vessels will be 5,000 tons larger than the Brooklyn, and at least three times as powerful for fighting purposes. The protected cruisers will be of 10,000 tons displacement, or about twice the size of the Olympia." It is safe to say that most of this preparation for naval warfare is being made because other nations are doing likewise; for it is a fact that the European nations, as well as Japan, are going even farther in proportion to their ability than the United States. This can not, in the very nature of things, promote peace; for just as individuals armed will risk more, and be more obtrusive, and, on the other hand, be more ready to resent intrusion, the same is to be expected of nations. Be not deceived; war preparation is not a promoter of peace, nor does it augur an era of peace among the nations. G.