Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-12-14

sufficient means for comfortable ex-
tstence, and ether similarly sbeaell-
cient things. But peace and the other
states CT being Just mentioned are
not always or even often solely with
IN one's own control. Il may truth
fully be said that eternal vigilance is
the price which must be paid in order
to obtain the desirable things Of life
and to defend them.
f. In the early history. OF our nation
there was u natural. almost inevitable,
adherence Of military force. because
ii connected military despotism. Most.
is not all. OF the early settlers in this
country came from nations where a
few powerful persons tyrannicaIly I'M
posed their viii upon the people by
means Of military power. OF course
all this has long since passed into
history. No reasonable person in this
country today has the slightest shad-
ow Of fear Of military despotism. nor
Of any interference whatever by MILL
tary force in the conduct of civil al
fairs.
1t also seems proper, in passing,
to refer to the frame Of mind Of those
who use the word 'militarism' as the
embodiment of tine doctrine OF brute
force and loosely apply II to any or
ganized preparation OF military force,
and therefore, deprecate any adequate
military preparation because 1t is a
step in the direction of the condemn
ed 'miIitarism Eve.y nation must
have adequate force to protect itself
from domestic insurrectfon. to enforce
its laws and to Iepel invasions; that
is, every nation that has similar char
acteristics TO those of self-respectins
man. II it prepares and maintains
more military force than is necessary
for the purposes just named, then IL
is subject to. the conviction. in the
public opinion Sof the world, OF having
embraced 'militarism,' unless it in
tends aggression for cause which
the public opinion Of the world con-
ceives to be righteous one. To the
extent. however. that ii confines its
military preparedness to the purposes
first mentioned, there is neither war
rant nor justification in characteriz-
ing such action as 'militarism.' 49, i
Discussion Of Preparation. !
Equally useless, in my view, is the
discussion frequently INDUCED in as
TO whether military preparation tends
or does not tend to avoid war. term
such discussion useless because, so
far as we are concerned, whatever
conclusion might De reached thereon
would not affect ,ar duty. Since 1t is
not in mind to suggest any military
Preparation of the nations resources
beyond that absolutely essential un-
der existing conditions, the question
of whether more. extensive preparation
for the purpose of avoiding war would,
have that effect or not is futile. On.
less and until the Congress Of the
United States representing the people
of the country, places on record the
conclusion of the people to the con:
trary my duty is, / think, entirely
clear; and that duty is to set forth
the facts and suggestions as to the
ways and means of fulfilling such ne
cessities. H..
What, then, docs this nation need
in the way of military preparedness?
OF course, am net attempting to lay
down a counsel of perfection-that is,
an extensive scheme which is ideal In
its completeness. Such scheme
might well be, considered and studied.
and adopted after long study. But to
await the result of such a course
would be to continue the undesirable
situation in which, We have so long
been3 In my view it is much. better
to do those things which lie nearer
at. hand and can he done than to re-
main as We are. without moving along
proper lines until a more comprehens-
i've scheme can be agreed upon"
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