Page 114 - The interest of America in sea power, present and future

The Isthmus and Sea Power. 95

own undeveloped territories for many a long
year; while at the same time they skilfully
handicapped that country in favor of British
sea pow er by entering into a joint guarantee
r
to respect its neutrality when built. This
secured postponement of construction indefi-
nitely, and yet forfeited no substantial advan-
tage necessary to establish effective naval
control in the interests of British carrying
trade."
Whether this passage truly represents the
deliberate purpose of successive British govern-
ments may be doubtful, but it is an accurate
enough estimate of the substantial result, as
long as our policy continues to be to talk loud
and to do nothing, — to keep others out, while
refusing ourselves to go in. We neutralize
effectually enough, doubtless ; for we neutralize
ourselves while leaving other powers to act
efficiently whenever it becomes worth while.
In a state like our own, national policy
means public conviction, else it is but as
sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal. But
public conviction is a very different thing from
popular impression, differing by all that sepa-
rates a rational process, resulting in manly