Page 203 - The interest of America in sea power, present and future

184 Preparedness for Naval War.

and to some extent still are, political condi-
tions on the American continents, the New
World, in the matter of political distribution
of territory and fixity of tenure, is permanence
itself, as compared with the stormy prospect
confronting the Old in its questions which will
not down.
In these controversies, which range them-
selves under the broad heads of colonial ex-
pansion and the Eastern question, all the
larger powers of Europe, the powers that main-
tain considerable armies or navies, or both, are
directly and deeply interested — except Spain.
The latter manifests no solicitude concerning
the settlement of affairs in the east of Europe,
nor is she engaged in increasing her still con-
siderable colonial dominion. This preoccupa-
tion of the great powers, being not factitious,
but necessary, — a thing that cannot be dis-
missed by an effort of the national will, be-
cause its existence depends upon the nature of
things, — is a legitimate element in the mili-
tary calculations of the United States. It can-
not enter into her diplomatic considerations,
for it is her pride not to seek, from the em-
barrassments of other states, advantages or