The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-08-15

possibility if not the probability of
war. Upon this nation to greater
degree than upon any other single
government rests the responsibility
for the maintenance of peace because
we have assumed a sort Of protector
ate for other nations of the western
world through the Monroe Doctrine
and this nation nor any nation can
command respect unless it is able, il
need be, to enforce the command. Bat
tleships and standing armies to pre-
vent war are cheaper and more desir-
able than the shedding of blood and
the sacrificing of men. In this connec-
ton may say that the United States
has been exceedingly modest as to the
size of its standing army as compar-
ed with those of other nations.
Great Britain maintains standing
army of 250,000 men with a first re-
serve of $4,000, making total of
trained and equipped men $4,000.
Germany has standing army OF
$4,000 men with a first reserve OF L.
$4,000 making total Of 1,S4o,0oo
trained and equipped soldiers.
Japan has 225,oOo IN her standing
army with first reserve of 1880 or
a total of 100000. While we have
| less than $4,000 men in the regular
army and about Ill LOCO in the Nation
al Guard, or total of less than 10000
| equipped soldiers. Our standing army
lis about one-third the size of that OF
Japan, one third that of Great Britain
| and one-eighth that of Germany, while
of trained and equipped men, We have
about one-fourth as many as Great
| Britain, one-third that of Japan and
one-tenth that of Germany.
| Mexico and Cuba.
We are standing today in position
where we may at any moment be call
ed upon to- place our armies in the
field and call our navies into action.
While many men of military training
and experience express the belief that
we are in danger of becoming involved
in war with the yellow men Of the
4 old world | must say that do r-ot
share strongly in that belief nor have
felt that we are in great danger OF
a conflict with any foreign country
and yet our safety and guaranty
against such contingency must de
pend largely upon our preparedness
1t must, however, be apparent to all
that there is strong possibility, and !
think indeed probability, that We
shall eventually be compelled to in
tervene In Mexico or Cuba, or both. In
renewing our declaration OF continued
adherence to the Monroe Doctrine We
i have placed upon ourselves the added
responsibility of assuming RESPONSE
Ibility in a measure at least for the ul
innate establishment Of peace in those
countries over which this limited pro
4 tectorate is to be extended.
i While these are subjects which per
tain to the permanency and the vel
4 fare of our nation and are worth oul
q considering we have met today rather
to pay our respects to the unknown
dead of the civil war and to theil
4 comrades dead and living who Tough
in that great conflict. History re
cords no greater war than that which
our nation held in its grasp for fou,
long and terrible years.
i From the crossing of the Red Ses
to the ancient city of Jerusalem wa.
little more than two hundred miles We
LIT required forty years for the chill
dren of Israel to make the Journey
While 1t is only one hundred ant
twenty miles from Bull Run to Apo
mattox 1t took four years for the arm
les of the republic to cover that dis
lance. The journey was indirect. II
/ travelled many dark and disma
road. It led by many fields of battle
4 1t was marked by the blood stains O
many weary feet. From first to las
i more than two million men Joined ii
this onward march. Grave yard.
4 thrived and fattened, disease ran ram