The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1914-11-13
THE RETURN OF SANITY
BY Major 4 w. Rarhcr.

NV -hdlNt L. W. loti uCl.
When the horrors OF the European
war commenced to percolatc through
the American brain a mighty protest
Went up from one end of this country
to the other.
Soldiers were denounced as muir
derers, as barbarians. as unfit to en-
cumber the earth. lnSiStent and We
hement demands were made for dis
armament and international peace.
Ministers Numbered from the pulpit,
orators howlcd from the stump. eN-
citable citizens acclaimed in the pub
lie streets, and even the great news
papers Of the. country led the van in
the march OF Bcdlam. 1t was the popu-
lar cry of the hour.
If perchanee some isolated MAYER
lex with an over abundance Of nerve
timidly suggested that the country was
i'll need OF better measures of protec-
ton, that relic OF barbarism was forth
with cast from the fold of the right
cous as a thing unclcan.
The nation was mad-Quite mad
literally insane on the subject of peace
And not entirely without cause.
But the first shock and nausea has
passed away. and, as is customary i'll
llllS Nobtlltl " lily lNbI'lN tldNC llVuNSd
for second and more sober thought.
The sanity Of the nation is returning.
People are beginning to realize the
peril that confronts us as a country
practically without the power OF re-
Sistance.
The public eye is becoming opened
to the fact that the American contin-
ent offers many tempting inducements
-, - ,,,Nr,p,Av, frAn1 farairy,,
countries, The people are becoming
reconcilcd to the fact that unless we
place our country in a state of adc-
quate national defense we are in grave
danger OF feeling the iron heel Of the
would-be conquercr, OF sharing in
measure the fate of the unhappy Bel
gians.
Peace loving Americans have been
staggered at the millions of troops be
ing placed in the field by the warning
nations of Europe, of the terrible en-
gincs of destruction at which the
world stands appalled,
In the United States we have but a
handful of troops, and at best we have
arms and equipment for maximum
army of not TO exceed 100000 men.
Our coast dcfcnses are lamentably
weak, and our navy is so small we
would be powerleSs to prevent the
landing Of the vast hosts of an in
vader. The demons of the air could
hover over the country and blow us
into eternity, for we have no means
of checking them.
These disagreeable facts are coming
forcibly home to the people, now that
they are taking time to calmly consid-
er conditions as they exist.
Men and women who a few weeks
age were denouncing wars and those
who fight them, are today demanding
that congress take prompt measures
for placing this country in an adequate
state Of defense.
Thirty days ago but few of the
leading papers of the country had the
courage to speak in behalf of defen-
sive measures Today strong de
mand is going up from the press in
all parts of the country.
But this attitude of the press simply
reflects the mind of the public, for the
people themselves are awakened to
the fact that their own ultimate sal
walton depends upon some measure OF
prompt and effective action by con
gress.
II is American sanity lcdsSSl ti'iS
itself.
If this country should become in
volved in war with some powerful ma
ton across the seas, or a combination
of them, we would not recover from
its effects within the life of the pres
ent generation.
1t would cost us a million lives in
the flower of our young manhood,
cities would be laid to waste or held
up for enormous ransom, the country
side would be devastated, and the pc
cuniary loss would amout high into