584 Presidential Addresses 



They should receive hearty encouragement from the 

 General Government. 



But in addition we should at once provide for a 

 National Naval Reserve, organized and trained 

 under the direction of the Navy Department, and 

 subject to the call of the Chief Executive whenever 

 war becomes imminent. It should be a real auxili- 

 ary to the naval seagoing peace establishment, and 

 offer material to be drawn on at once for manning 

 our ships in time of war. It should be composed 

 of graduates of the Naval Academy, graduates of 

 the Naval Militia, officers and crews of coast-line 

 steamers, longshore schooners, fishing vessels, and 

 steam yachts, together with the coast population 

 about such centres as life-saving stations and light- 

 houses. 



The American people must either build and main- 

 tain an adequate navy or else make up their minds 

 definitely to accept a secondary position in inter- 

 national affairs, not merely in political, but in com- 

 mercial, matters. It has been well said that there is 

 no surer way of courting national disaster than to 

 be "opulent, aggressive, and unarmed." 



It is not necessary to increase our army beyond 

 its present size at this time. But it is necessary to 

 keep it at the highest point of efficiency. The in- 

 dividual units who as officers and enlisted men com- 

 pose this army, are, we have good reason to believe, 

 at least as efficient as those of any other army in the 

 entire world. It is our duty to see that their train- 



