The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-18


there, Fortihcations are the best and
most secure method Of protecting that
canal against the attack OF some ir-
responsible nation or armed force.
II is said that we could neutralize the
canal, and. by Inducing all nations to
agree not to attack the canal. secure
immunity from injury But the trouble
is that nations are quite as likely as man
TO violate their obligations under great
stress like that OF war
IL seems 10 me that we ought 10 put
ourselves In a position with reference to
this very valuable and delicate piece of
property so that, should any nation for
get its obligation. we will be in "A position
to prevent unlawful injury TO this instru-
ment of commerce so valuable TO the
world and so indispensable TO US.
The fact that we fortify the canal will
not prevent us from discharging all in
ternatlonal Obligations that We may have
in respect to IT, Nut IL will enable us TO
defend ourselves in its possession against
the act OF every irresponsible force or
nation, IT will rot prevent our maintain
ing its neutrality il that is wise and
right
Again. our strong feeling In favor of
peace, it seems to me. ought not 10 pre-
vent our taking the proper steps under
existing conditions to maintain our ma
tional defenses. We have on the con-
tinent of the United States excellent
coast defcnses for every important har-
Dor that an enemy could enter.
We probably ought TO see to it that
we have ammunition and guns enough
for ready use in cases Of emergency. We
have a small but very efficient army Of
Se.00 men We have militia OF
about l25.O00 men. The army is so con-
stituted that we could enlarge Il from a
skeleton organization into a much larger
body. We ought 10 have more trained
officers so as 20 furnish the teachers TO a
larger body of men that war might re-
quire US to enlist
Thcre has been a good deal Of talk in
the papers. and some reference in Con-
gress, 10 the supposed helpless condition
OF this country in the event Of a foreign
invasion. I venture to think that much
more has been made OF this than~the
facts. calmly considered. would justify.
We have a very good navy, and with the
opening Of the Panama Canal it will be
"a much more effective one II would
be useful to prevent the coming of
an invading army across seas.
The people Of this country viii never
consent 10 the maintenance OF a stand
ing army which military experts will
pronounce sufficiently large to cope In
battle with the standing armies Of the
greater powers. should they get by our
navy, avoid our harbor defenses, and
descend upon our coast.
IL this leaves US In a position of help
lessness. then so be IT, For those who
understand the popular will in this coun-
try know that tt, cannot be otherwise
We shall do everything IN the way of
wise military preparation II we main
tain our present reguiar army. II We
continue 20 improve the national militia
II We pass the pending volunteer bill TO
go into operation when war is declare1
and not 10 Involve the nation IN a dol
lars worth OF expense until the emer-
gency arises II We PASS a law now pend
ing in Congress which viii give US
force Of additional officers trained in the
military art. and able IN times of peace
70 render efficient service In drilling the
militia Of the States and in filing useful
quasi-ctvil positions that are OF the ut
most adyantaee to the government. and
II We in a reasonable slime accumulate
guns and ammunition enough To equip
and arm the force We could enlist under
/ have said this much in order to allay
the so-called war scare which has fur
nished pabulum for the newspapers dur
ing the last few days. There is not the
slightest reason for such a sensation. We
are at peace with al the nations of the
world, and are quite likely TO remain so,
as far as We can into the future
Just a little more forethought, a little
more attention 10 the matter on the part
OF Congress, and we shall have all OF
the army and ali of the munitions and
material for war that We ought 10 have
in a republic situated as we are-S 900
miles on the one hand and $500 miles on
the other from the source Of possible
invasion
our army is much more expensive per
man than that Of any other nation. and
it is not an unmixed evil that it is so,
because it necessarily restricts US 10 the
maintenance OF a force which is indis-
pensabie in the ordinary policing OF this
country and our dependencies, and fur
nishes an additional reason for our using
every endeavOr to maintain peace
| congratulate this association on the
recent foundation OF Mr. Carnegie, by
which, under the wise guidance OF Mr.
Elhu Root, Mr.. Knox. and their assist
ants, an income Of $4,000 annually is
TO be expended in the practical promotion
of movements 10 secure permanent peace
The wide discretion given to the trustees
and their known ability, foresight, end
common sense insure the usefulness of
the gift.
War has not disappeared and history
will not be free from it for years TO