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US Presidential Inaugural Addresses by Various
page 255 of 440 (57%)
make every effort consistent with national honor and the highest
national interest to avoid a resort to arms. We favor every
instrumentality, like that of the Hague Tribunal and arbitration
treaties made with a view to its use in all international
controversies, in order to maintain peace and to avoid war. But we
should be blind to existing conditions and should allow ourselves to
become foolish idealists if we did not realize that, with all the
nations of the world armed and prepared for war, we must be ourselves
in a similar condition, in order to prevent other nations from taking
advantage of us and of our inability to defend our interests and assert
our rights with a strong hand.

In the international controversies that are likely to arise in the
Orient growing out of the question of the open door and other issues
the United States can maintain her interests intact and can secure
respect for her just demands. She will not be able to do so, however,
if it is understood that she never intends to back up her assertion of
right and her defense of her interest by anything but mere verbal
protest and diplomatic note. For these reasons the expenses of the army
and navy and of coast defenses should always be considered as something
which the Government must pay for, and they should not be cut off
through mere consideration of economy. Our Government is able to afford
a suitable army and a suitable navy. It may maintain them without the
slightest danger to the Republic or the cause of free institutions, and
fear of additional taxation ought not to change a proper policy in this
regard.

The policy of the United States in the Spanish war and since has given
it a position of influence among the nations that it never had before,
and should be constantly exerted to securing to its bona fide citizens,
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