New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-09
wisconsin at Its Worst.

Mr. Wilson has fallen more and more into the
habit of trying to make specious phrases DO the
work of craftsmanship. For a while the public
was cozened by these phrases 1t listened with
tolerance TO the professions Of lofty disnter-
estedness with which the President interviewed IN
the affairs of Mexico. He said that ne went
there on a moral mission and with no smaller
purpose than "to serve mankind" But when
that grotesque moral mission ended and the coun-
try realized how fantastic, futile and empty
handed 1t had been, the spell Of the Presidents
leadership was shattered. His whole theory Of
government through sterile phrases fell to the
ground.
The President stands almost alone in not seeing
that his system of craftsmanship has gone 70
smash. Otherwise he would not have filled yes
terday's message with the same old literary de-
vices, the same vague sentimentalism, recoillng
from the facts of the situation and the duty
nearest at hand. The question has been raised
whether our navy army and our coast de-
fences are being maintained at the highest prac-
ticable level of efficiency. 1t is a natural ques-
ton, suggested by the deficiencies in equipment
and preparation which have been disclosed IN
some of the countries involved in the great Euro
pean war The Tribune has shown that the
efficiency of the navy has deteriorated. From
many other sources have come suggestions that
the army is not properly equipped and the coast
defences are not properly manned
Nothing could be more in line with public IN
terest than thorough inquiry into the condition
of the nations defences. Nor could time be
better chosen than the present in which to IN
crease our military efficiency. In state of pro-
found peace additional preparations by the United
States might cause uneasiness to foreign powers
suspecting that our activities were directed
against them. But with all the other leading
nations of the world either at or modified
on war basis no concern can possibly be aroused
by any defensive measures which we may take
An administration with its eyes fixed on realities
would welcome a most exhaustive inquiry into
the condition of our armed forces. But with his
perverse disposition to avoid the facts and TO
search the skies for impulses and motives, Mr..
Wilson contends that this is precisely not the time
TO examine our resources and to supplement them,
because by doing so we should impair our moral
influence as nation devoted to peace and enjoy
ing a worldwide reputation for military unpre-
paredness
The idea that our seeking at this moment to
repair our military deficiencies would disqualify
the United States TO act as mediator in the
European conflict is a sheer delusion. 1t is in
class with the delusion that "the service of man
kind" obliged us to go into Mexico for the purpose
of restoring possession of the land to the 50 per
cent of submerged Mexican poems Conclusions
of this sort do not represent craftsmanship, but
mere idolatry of unregulated idealism. I'VE are
champions of peace and concord" says the Pres-
dent. THEREIN lies our greatness" But it can
not possibly detract from our championship of
peace and concord if we merely examine our
present means of national defence-which are
certainly most modest--and satisfy ourselves that
the money we spend on them is being spent TO
the best possible advantage.
With his usual bland manipulation OF phrases
the President lodges the whole issue raised by
those who are asking for an investigation. I'VE
must depend in every time of national peril" he
says, mot upon a standing army, nor yet upon
reserve army, but upon a citizenry trained and
accustomed TO arms" But that is not the situa-
ton at ALL We must depend 70 ward of foreign
attacks, first on the navy and next upon the stand
ing and reserve armies which can be modified at
once TO defend the coast The "citizenry" could
not come into play until after enemy had made
Judgement in the United States Then the dam
age would already have been done. We must have
an adequate first line in the navy and an ade-
ouate second line in the army. What the country
wants 10 know-and will insist on knowng-is
whether those two lines as strong as they are
supposed 10 be and also as strong as they ought
10 be. II is not concerned at present about the
third line Of "citizenry trained to arms"
In Us whole tone and purport Mr. Wilson's mes
sage is amazing. Never before has he shown 50
Mainly his unsafe detachment from the realities
Of our national life. Never before has ne ex-
hibited 70 frankly his blind sef-conidence in the
h,ree Of few sham-humanitarian phrases. The
elections of 1914 have taught him nothing. lie Is
not IN touch with the country, and the country
knows tiff he doesn't. Yesterdays message
pin furnish a wealth Of material for the crafts