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to ward off any dangers to which we might be exposed。 In season and out of season he preached； with the ardor of a propagandist； his gospel that the Navy is the surest guarantor of peace which this country possesses。 By dint of urging he persuaded Congress to consent to lay down one battleship of the newest type a year。 Congress was not so much reluctant as indifferent。 Even the lesson of the Spanish War failed to teach the Nation's law…makers； or the Nation itself； that we must have a Navy to protect us if we intended to play the role of a World Power。 The American people instinctively dreaded militarism； and so they resisted consenting to naval or military preparations which might expand into a great evil such as they saw controlling the nations of Europe。
Nevertheless Roosevelt； as usual； could not be deterred by opposition； and when the Hague Conference in 1907； through the veto of Germany； refused to limit armaments by sea and land； he warned Congress that one new battleship a year would not do； that they must build four。 Meanwhile； he had pushed to completion a really formidable American Fleet； which assembled in Hampton Roads on December 1； 1907； and ten days later weighed anchor for parts unknown。 There were sixteen battleships； commanded by Rear Admiral Robley D。 Evans。 Every ship was new； having been built since the Spanish War。 The President and Mrs。 Roosevelt and many notables reviewed the Fleet from the President's yacht Mayflower； as it passed out to sea。 Later； the country learned that the Fleet was to sail round Cape Horn； to New Zealand and Australia； up the Pacific to San Francisco； then across to Japan； and so steer homeward through the Indian Ocean； the Suez Canal； and the Mediterranean to Gibraltar； across the Atlantic； and back to Hampton Roads。
The American public did not quite know what to make of this dramatic gesture。 Roosevelt's critics said； of course； that it was the first overt display of his combativeness； and that from this he would go on to create a great army and be ready； at the slightest provocation； to attack any foreign Power。 In fact； however； the sending of the Great Fleet； which was wholly his project； was designed by him to strengthen the prospect of peace for the United States。 Through it； he gave a concrete illustration of his maxim： 〃Speak softly； but carry a big stick。〃 The Panama Canal was then half dug and would be finished in a few years。 Distant nations thought of this country as of a land peopled by dollar…chasers； too absorbed in getting rich to think of providing defense for themselves。 The fame of Dewey's exploit at Manila Bay had ceased to strike wonder among foreign peoples； after they heard how small and almost contemptible； judging by the new standards； the Squadron was by which he won his victory。 Japan； the rising young giant of the Orient； felt already strong enough to resent any supposed insult from the United States。 Germany had embarked on her wild naval policy of creating a fleet which would soon be able to cope with that of England。
When； however； the Great Fleet steamed into Yokohama or Bombay or any other port； it furnished a visible evidence of the power of the country from which it came。 We could not send an army to furnish the same object…lesson。 But the Fleet must have opened the eyes of any foreign jingoes who supposed that they might send over with impunity their battleships and attack our ports。 In this way it served directly to discourage war against us； and accordingly it was a powerful agent for peace。 Spectacular the voyage was without question； like so many of Roosevelt's acts； but if you analyze it soberly； do you not admit that it was the one obvious； simple way by which to impress upon an uncertain and rapacious world the fact that the United States had manpower as well as money…power； and that they were prepared to repel all enemies？
On February 22； 1909； the White Fleet steamed back to Hampton Roads and was received by President Roosevelt。 It had performed a great moral achievement。 It had also raised the efficiency of its officers and the discipline of its crews to the highest point。 There had been no accident； not a scratch on any ship。
〃Isn't it magnificent？〃 said Roosevelt； as he toasted the Admirals and Captains in the cabin of the Mayflower。 〃Nobody after this will forget that the American coast is on the Pacific as well as on the Atlantic。〃 Ten days later he left the White House； and after he left； the prestige of the American Fleet was slowly frittered away。
So important is it； if we would form a just estimate of Roosevelt； to understand his attitude towards war； that I must refer to the subject briefly here。 One of the most authoritative observers of international politics now living； a man who has also had the best opportunity for studying the chief statesmen of our age； wrote me after Roosevelt's death： 〃I deeply grieve with you in the loss of our friend。 He was an extraordinary man。 The only point in which I ever found myself seriously differing from him was in the value he set upon war。 He did not seem to realize how great an evil it is； and in how many ways； fascinated as he was by the virtues which it sometimes called out； but in this respect； also； I think his views expanded and mellowed as time went on。 His mind was so capacious as to take in Old…World affairs in a sense which very few people outside Europe； since Hamilton； have been able to do。〃
Now the truth is that neither the eminent person who wrote this letter； nor many others among us； saw as clearly during the first decade of this century as Roosevelt saw that war was not a remote possibility； but a very real danger。 I think that he was almost the first in the United States to feel the menace of Germany to the entire world。 He knew the strength of her army； and when she began to build rapidly a powerful navy； he understood that the likelihood of her breaking the peace was more than doubled； for with the fleet she could at pleasure go up and down the seas； picking quarrels as she went。 If war came on a great scale in Europe； our Republic would probably be involved； we should either take sides and so have to furnish a contingent； or we should restrict our operations to self…defense。 In either case we must be prepared。
But Roosevelt recognized also that on the completion of the Panama Canal we might be exposed to much international friction； and unless we were ready to defend the Canal and its approaches； a Foreign Power might easily do it great damage or wrest it from us； at least for a time。 Here； too； was another motive for facing the possibility of war。 We were growing up in almost childish trust in a world filled with warlike nations； which regarded war not only as the obvious way in which to settle disputes； but as the easiest way to seize the territory and the wealth of rich neighbors who could not defend themselves。
This being the condition of life as our country had to lead it； we were criminally remiss in not taking precautions。 But Roosevelt went farther than this； he believed that； war or no war； a nation must be able to defend itself； so must every individual be。 Every youth should have sufficient military training to fit him to take h