In considering the question of military and naval preparedness. we must not fail to note the fact that we have recently celebrated the one hundredth anniversary of the restoration of peaceful relations with Great Britain. and that during the past century we have maintained with the peopleof Canada not only peace in form but in spirit as well. Business relations between the two countries have been most intimate. For many years emigration from Canada to the United States has been very large. and in recent years many citizens of our country have crossed the line and have become citizens of Canada. We have the same general forms of government and methods of procedure. and therefore it is fair to assume that if the wishes of the people of either country were observed. as would necessarily be the case. there could be no breach In the relations which now exist. To the south we are in contact with a turbulent population which. from a military standpoint. however. is not of sufficient importance to materially affect our military requirements or to in any way influence our naval development. so in treating with Mexico. while there may be occasions like the present. when uncertainty resulting from disorders will prevail. these conditions will not cause any great uneasiness and need not affect. except temporarily. the development of our military establishment. These being the conditions to the north and south. our only real fear of serious entanglements comes from the east and west. It has been frequently stated by both the thinking and unthinking that the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans are our best International friends.. That was true in former days. when the means of transportation were slow and Infrequent. but with the development of transportation facilities and the use of such modern implements of warfare as the flying machine. the submarine the battle cruiser. and the destroyer. the oceans which separate us from European and Asiatic shores can not give us the same feeling of security which obtained in the early days of the Republic. A nations naval policy must depend on Its requirements. If other nations did not maintain navies. it would be unnecessary and foolish for us to do so.
Keywords matched
Asiatic emigration