The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1914-11-12

Ministers thundered fron the pul
pit, orators howled from the stump
excitable citizens declaimed in th,
public streets, and even the great news
paper Of the country led the van il
the march Of Bedlam. It was the
popular cry Of the hour.
| II perchance some isolated maver
lex with an over abundance Of nerve
timidly suggested that the country
was in need Of better measures OF pro-
lection, that relic OF barbarism wa:
forthwith cast from the fold Of the
righteous as a thing unclesn.
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 cuttomary in
this country, the people have paused
for second and more sober thought.
The sanity Of the nation is returning.
People are beginning to realize the
peril that confronts US as country
practically without the power Of re.
sistance,
The public eve is becoming open
ed TO the fact that the American con-
tinent offers many tempting induce
ments TO an army Of invasion from for
eign countries. The people are be-
coming reconciled to the fact that un-
less we place our country in state ol
adequate national defense we are in
grave danger Of feeling the iron heel oI
the would'be conqueror, Of sharing
in a measure the fate Of the unhappy
Belgians.
Peace loving Americans have been
staggered at the millions Of troops
being placed in the field by the war
ring nations Of Europe, Of the terrible
engines Of destruction at which the
world stands appalled,.
In the United States we have but a
handful Of troops, and at best We have
the arms and equipment for maxi
mum army Of not to exceed 100000
men. Our coast defenses are lament
ably weak. and our nauY is so small
we would be powerless to prevent the
landing Of the vast hosts Of an invader,
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
iorcibly home to the people, now that
they are taking time to calmly consid-
er conditions as they exist.
Men and women who few weeks
ago were denouncing wars and those
who fight them, are today demanding
that congress take prompt measures
for placing the country in an adequate
state Of defense.
Thirty days ago but few Of the
leading papers Of the country had the
coufage to speok in behalf Of deiens'
i've measures. Today a 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 awakening to
the fac: that their own ultimate saliva
ton depends upon some measure oi
prompt and effective action by con-
gress.
II is American sanity reasserting it.
self.
II this country should become in
volved in war with some powerful for
eign country, or a combination ol
them, We would not recover from Its
effects within the life Of the present
generation. -
II would cost US a million lives in
the flower OF your young manhood,
cities would be laid waste or held up
for enormus ransom, the country side
would be devastated, and the pecuni'
ary loss would mount high into the
billions Of dollars.
Business would demoralized, factor
les would be closed, millions Of people
would be out Of employment, and
want and starvation would face the
poor.
Financial panic would ensue, the
weaker banks would 20 TO the wall,
and the rich would hoard the wealth
Of the country and withdraw it from
circulation.
And this only portion Of the ap'