Milford chronicle., 1909-02-26

DEI5 Will lEEk4E5S uuAOuuuEu Suo-
picions and accusations, distorting
historic statements, promotes con-
slant talk about war and prepara-
tior for war, of manoevres, promo
motions, and technical details, and
makes rs blind to the real sources
Of our greatest loss Of life and prop
erty.
7. Because our three foreign
wars since 1881, which lasted only
six years, cost in life, all told, in
battle, nothing comparable with
our reckless slaughter by accidents
every year in time Of peace. The
500, 600, 900 increase Of the navy
asked for last year, ifspent in fight
ing disease, ignorance, waste and
wickedness at home, probably
could save as much life and prop
erty as all our foreign and civil
wars have cost. In five "ears we
have lost alone by FIRE, largely pre-
ventable, S,2oo, 900, 900. In four
years we have killed by accident,
largely preventable, $4,000 more
than were killed on both sides in
the four years of civil war.
8. Because we are already
spending over 65 per cent. Of the
nation S revenue in payment for
past war and in preparation for fu-
ture war, and have but One-third
of our national revenue left for
judicial and executive departments
coast-guard, light houses, quaran-
tine, custom houses, post Offices,
census waterways, forestry, consu-
lar and diplomatic service, and all
other constructive work.
9. Because we have increased
our expenditure for defence 200
times during a period when our
population has increased only p
times, our coast line perhaps three
times and our danger from attack
not at all.
10. Because we are protected |
by nature as is no other country, !
and have not the excuse for a great |
navy which England has, nor for a |
strong army which Germany has. |
Our wealth is as great a protection
as our geographical position. We
supply our own necessities and are
not dependent as many nations are.
General Sheridan said THAI no ma
tion on the continent Of Europe had
sufficient ships to spare to bring
over enough soldiers to carry on
one campaign so far from its base
0fsupplies.
II. Because we shall need no
navy to protect the Philippines if
We but ask the nations to pledge
preservation of their autonomy
when we grant them their independ-
ence. No nation could refuse or
would dare wantonly break such a
pledge made to the world. The
naturalization, in this manner, of
exposed places is one of the most
successful methods of preventing
var which we can further use. The
pledge between the United States
md Crest Britain to remove battle
hips and forts from our Canadia~
border has, since 1877, secured ]
,eace at no expense on over 1900 {
niles Of frontier. Without this
ledge we should probably have !
var. So long as this line is un- c
.uarded we shall never fight Great S
Britain. t
I2. Because all the great ma tions
u one place or another are securing 4
afety from territorial aggrandize- I
lent by pledging territory inviola \
ility. All the nations on the e
ialtic and North Seas signed treat !
5 in April, 1908, to respect each L
theirs territory on those waters. a
turbulent Central America has Sc t'
ured peace by similar methods. 1t Il
the method of the future.
I3. Because in spite of our II
.rategic position and the fact that d
.urope largely depends on us for a
,od, we are spending for defence ri
lore than France and only $50 Ii
DO, 600 less than Germany, and a
My 500, ,ooo, 900 less than Great d
ritian which has possessions to n
-otect around the globe, and is n
nable to feed herself except by im- o'
Orts. ST
IA. Because labor put into the II
of aramaments could CT
= better employed to increase our le
sufficient railroad capacity, and W
) many more men could be en- ol
Dyed in making rails and engines,
which we have too few to move 70
II crops, as in making armour NJ
ate and instruments of destruc- ii
)n. A
IS. Because the recent arbitra- OF
IN treaties signed with Great TO