The chronicle=news. (Trinidad, Colo.) 1898-current, 1914-12-11

And this ix absolutely all. The
only other recourse would then be
volunteers, and TO equip. organize.
train and make them ready would
take. at the smallest possible esti-
mate, six months.
Anyone who takes the slightest
trouble to Investigate will find that,
in modern warfare prepared enemy
would progress SO far on the way to
success in SIX months, II hts antago-
mist had to wsit Six months to meet
him, that sucii unprepsred Rntago-
mist might as well concede defeat
without contest"
OF the efficiency of the present
army, Mr.. Garrison says:
while our existing organization
is one of the exceedingly small num-
bers already mentioned, Il is unques-
tionably in as excellent condition as
any similar number Of men in any
other military establishment in the
world. Were 1t not for desire to
avoid invidious eoWparisons should
ray that man for man 1t is better
than any similar existing military
esta blfshment in the world. do not
believe that any one will dispute the
statement that thu army has never
been in better condition than 1t is
today, from the most recently en-
listed man up to the highest officers.
There is an esprit de corps, an Gag
erness to constantly strive toward
perfection. = willingness to under
take and satisfactorily perform any
and every duty. that b most COM
nendable and encouraging" go tr-i
Passing to the need for larger
army. regular and reserve, the sec
rotary discusses at some length ,peace
and tho use Of the world "militar-
ISM" touching upon the mooted
question Of whether military prep
aration tends to prevent war.
| at is, of course, not necessary to
dwell on the blessings Of peace and
the horrors of war;" he says. Every
one desires peace, just as every one
desires health. contentment. affec-
ton, sufficient means for comfort
able existence, and other similarly
beneficient things. But peace and
the other states of being just men
toned are not always or even often
solely within ones own control. 1t
may truthfully be said that eternal
vigilance IL the price which must be
paid in order to obtain The desirable
things Of life and to defend them.
I'm the early history Of our ma
tion there was q natural, almost In
eyitable, adherence OF military
force, because 1t connected military
despotism. Most. II not all. OF the
early settlers In this country came
from nations where few powerful
persons tyranically imposed their
will upon. the people by means Of
military power. OF course, all this
has long since passed into history
No reasonable person in this country
to-day has the slightest shadow Of
fear of military deepotism. nor Of
any interference whatever by mill
tary force In the conduct of civil
affairs.
ut also seems proper. In passing.
to refer to the frame Of mind OF
those who use the word 'militarism'
as the embodiment OF the doctrine OF
brute force and loosely apply 1t to
any organized preparation OF mill
ltary force, and therefore deprecate
any adequate military preparation
because 1t is a step In the direction
Of the condemned .militarism.' Every
nation must have adequate force to
protect itself from domestic insur-
rection, to enforce its laws, and to
repel invasions; that Is, every nation
that has similar characteristics to
those Of self-rsspecting men. II 1t
prepares and maintains more mill
tary force than is necessary for the
purposes just named, then it is sub
ject to the conviction, in the public
opinion OF the world. Of having en-
braced 'militarism. unless 1t intends
aggression for cause which the
public opinion of the world conceives
to be righteous one. To the ex-
tent, however, that 1t confines Its
military preparedness to the purposes
first mentioned, there is neither war
rant nor justification In characterize
ing such action az 'miiitarism.'
| Equally useless, in my view, Is
the discussion frequently INDUCED in
as to whether military preparation
tends or does not tend to avoid war.
I term such discussion useless be-
cause, SO far as we are concerned,
Whatever conclusion might be reach
ed thereon would not affect our duty.
Since 1t Is not in mind to suggest any
| military preparation OF the nation g
resources beyond that absolutely es-
genital under existing conditions.
the question of whether more extern
sive preparation for the purpose Of
avoiding war would nave that effect
or not is futile. Unless and until the
congress of the United States, repre-
senting the people Of the country.
places on record the conclusion Of the