Page 146 - The interest of America in sea power, present and future

Anglo-American Reunion. 127

in war. I shall have to try for special clearness
here in stating my own views, partly because
to some they may appear retrogressive, and
also because they may be thought by others
to contradict what I have said elsewhere, in
more extensive and systematic treatment of
this subject.
The alliance which, under one form or an-
other,— either as a naval league, according to
Sir George, or as a formal treaty, according to
Mr. White, — is advocated by both writers,
looks ultimately and chiefly to the contingency
of war. True, a leading feature of either pro-
posal is to promote good-will and avert causes
of dissension between the two contracting
parties ; but even this object is sought largely
in order that they may stand by each other
firmly in case of difficulty with other states.
Thus even war may be averted more surely;
but, should it come, it would find the two united
upon the ocean, consequently all-powerful there,
and so possessors of that mastership of the
general situation which the sea always has con-
ferred upon its unquestioned rulers. Granting
the union of hearts and hands, the supremacy,
from my standpoint, logically follows. But why,