Page 199 - The interest of America in sea power, present and future

180 Preparedness for Naval War. ;

considering, not what is the largest army or
navy in the world, with the view of rivalling
it, but what there is in the political status of
the world, including not only the material inter-
ests but the temper of nations, which involves
a reasonable, even though remote, prospect of
difficulties which may prove insoluble except
by war. The matter, primarily, is political in
character. It is not until this political deter-
mination has been reached that the data for
even stating the military problem are in hand
for here, as always, the military arm waits upon
and is subservient to the political interests and
civil power of the state.
It is not the most probable of dangers, but
the most formidable, that must be selected as
measuring the degree of military precaution
to be embodied in the military preparations
thenceforth to be maintained. The lesser is
contained in the greater; if equal to the most
that can be apprehended reasonably, the coun-
try can view with quiet eye the existence of
more imminent, but less dangerous complica-
tions. Nor should it be denied that in estimat-
ing danger there should be a certain sobriety
of imagination, equally removed from undue