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 his place at a moment's notice in the national armament。 This did not mean the maintenance of a large standing army； or the adoption of a soul and character…killing system of militarism like the German。 It meant giving training to every youth who was physically sound which would develop and strengthen his body； teach him obedience； and impress upon him his patriotic duty to his country。
I was among those who； twenty years ago； feared that Roosevelt's projects were inspired by innate pugnacity which he could not outgrow。 Now； in this year of his death； I recognize that he was right； and I believe that there is no one； on whom the lesson of the Atrocious War has not been lost； who does not believe in his gospel of military training； both for its value in promoting physical fitness and health and in providing the country with competent defenders。 Roosevelt detested as much as anyone the horrors of war； but； as he had too much reason to remind the American people shortly before his death； there are things worse than war。 And when in 1919 President Charles W。 Eliot becomes the chief advocate of universal military training； we need not fear that it is synonymous with militarism。
On one subjecta protective tariffI think that Roosevelt was less satisfactory than on any other。 At Harvard； in our college days； John Stuart Mill's ideas on economics prevailed； and they were ably expounded by Charles F。 Dunbar； who then stood first among American economists。 Being a consistent Individualist； and believing that liberty is a principle which applies to commerce； not less than to intellectual and moral freedom； Mill； of course； insisted on Free Trade。 But after Roosevelt joined the Republican Partyin the straw vote for President； in 1880； he had voted like a large majority of undergraduates for Bayard； a Democrathe adopted Protection as the right principle in theory and in practice。 The teachings of Alexander Hamilton； the wonderful spokesman of Federalism； the champion of a strong Government which should be beneficent because it was unselfish and enlightened； captivated and filled him。 In 1886； in his Life of Benton； he wrote： 〃Free traders are apt to look at the tariff from a sentimental standpoint； but it is in reality a purely business matter and should be decided solely on grounds of expediency。 Political economists have pretty generally agreed that protection is vicious in theory and harmful in practice； but if the majority of the people in interest wish it； and it affects only themselves； there is no earthly reason why they should not be allowed to try the experiment to their heart's content。〃 *
* Roosevelt： Thomas H。 Benton； 67。 American Statesmen Series。
Perhaps we ought to infer from this extract that Roosevelt； as an historical critic； strove to preserve an open mind； as an ardent Republican； however； he never wavered in his support of the tariff。 Even his sense of humor permitted him to swallow with out a smile the demagogue's cant about 〃infant industries；〃 or the raising of the tariff after election by the Republicans who had promised to reduce it。 To those of us who for many years regarded the tariff as the dividing line between the parties； his stand was most disappointing。 And when the head of one of the chief Trusts in America cynically blurted out； 〃The Tariff is the mother of Trusts；〃 we hoped that Roosevelt； who had then begun his stupendous battle with the Trusts； would deal them a staggering blow by shattering the tariff。 But； greatly to our chagrin； he did nothing。
His enemies tried to explain his callousness to this reform by hinting that he had some personal interest at stake； or that he was under obligations to tariff magnates。 Nothing could be more absurd than these innuendoes； from the first of his career to the last； no man ever brought proof that he had directly or indirectly secured Roosevelt's backing by question able means。 And there were times enough when passions ran so high that any one who could produce an iota of such testimony would have done so。 The simple fact is； that in looking over the field of important questions which Roosevelt believed must be met by new legislation； he looked on the tariff as unimportant in comparison with railroads； and conservation； and the measures for public health。 I think； also； that he never studied the question thoroughly； he threw over Mill's Individualism early in his public career and with it went Mill's political economy。 As late as December； 1912； after the affronting Payne Aldrich Tariff Act had been passed under his Republican successor； I reminded Roosevelt that I had never voted for him because I did not approve of his tariff policy。 To which he replied； almost in the words of the Benton extract in 1886； 〃My dear boy； the tariff is only a question of expediency。〃
In this field also I fear that we must score a miss against him。
Cavour used to say that he did not need to resort to craft； which was supposed to be a statesman's favorite instrument； he simply told the truth and everybody was deceived。 Roosevelt might have said the same thing。