THE MAINTENANCE OF THE FLEET. 113 



define the powers of Congress, nine of them deal with providing, organizing and 

 maintaining "the common defense" in such uncompromising language as seems to 

 voice the suspicion of its framers as to the probable location of the lamb on that 

 great day when the lion and the lamb shall lie down together, and even to suggest 

 that the happy after-dinner speech of the lion is not a safe basis for framing a 

 policy of national defense. The founders of this nation even seemed to suspect 

 that a federation of states would not, as a form of government, sufficiently main- 

 tain preparedness, and therefore took great pains to fix the responsibility on the 

 legislative branch of the general government. If it is true that the people really 

 rule this country — and they are constantly told they do — and yet shrink from 

 facing issues which involve any sacrifice of their time, pleasure or comfort, then the 

 standard of citizenship is perilously low, and government by the people is seriously 

 on trial. 



DISCUSSION. 



The Chairman : — The other day the Chair had the privilege of being greeted as an "old 

 landmark" of the Society and as such an "old landmark" he will call to your attention 

 something which happened about twenty years ago at one of the early meetings of this 

 Society. The then Lieutenant Niblack read what was supposed to be a very quiet and 

 innocuous paper, which dealt with a subject which was quite a live issue at that time, 

 namely, the coaling of ships. Before we could properly muzzle the discussion, it consumed 

 about two-thirds of our available time. The subject then treated was a mere bagatelle in 

 importance compared with the one he has brought to our attention this morning. It is 

 refreshing to have someone in the military service who knows what he is talking about, 

 present things of such vital consequence in such terse, effective and convincing form. It is 

 our good fortune that Captain Niblack had to present this paper in its entirety, for to have 

 had it read by abstract would have doubtless deprived us of some of its best portions. 



The matters touched upon by him affect the coimtry at large, even more than they affect 

 those who happen to be in the military or naval service. If, by the presentation of facts of 

 this kind, we can arouse our colleagues in civil life to a realization of national conditions 

 — and we surely do not help ourselves by refusing to see the things that are before our 

 eyes — such efforts will not have been in vain. 



I have recently returned from a visit to the west coast of this country. It is grati- 

 fying to find that nearly everywhere out there these questions are taking a vital hold upon 

 the people; that the great question of unselfish devotion to country and preparation for 

 national defense — not preparedness for national aggression — was getting to be a very live 

 issue; that to take time by the forelock and prepare themselves to protect, if necessary, 

 their national welfare was all-important. But no one desires preparation for aggression, 

 only preparation for the prevention of possible invasions and resultant destruction of all 

 that is held most dear. 



