New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-03
Whv Should We Not Defend Our
selves?
selves?

The National Security League is the expression
of growing conviction the country over Ihat
conviction abates not one jot from our natlonai
resolve for peace, from our national aversion 10
militarism and all its works. 1t postulates our
national duty to labor for disarmament ana an
international agreement establishing world
peace. if such plan can be devised by the mind
of man. But it insists, in the meantime, upon
little plain common sense and precaution. 1t in
sists that we shall not now cast aside all weapons
merely because we hope some day to make their
use impossible.
The great war has had two effects upon our
minds. 1t has increased immeasurably our horror
of war our realization Of its destructiveness, our
dread of it's arrival 1t has also brought sharply
before us the inescapable fact that, as the world
is organized to-day, war is possibility which
every nation, however peaceable, however wen
intentioned, must face. The chance may be near
or remote. In the case of our own country, with
its fortunate isolation, its democratic and anti
militarist spirit its will for peace, we are surely
justified in rating the chance a small one But
the chance exists, and it is folly to blink the fact
There are those who prefer to shut their eyes to
the possibility. "The Evening Post" yesterday
took Mr.. George Haven Putnam to task for his
obvious and reasonable suggestion of how lnva-
sion might come to this country. 1t scofed at the
idea and asserted the impossbility of any inva-
sion in force of this country. There would be
more responsiveness in these assertions had not
"The Evening Post" frequently in the past demon
itxyf ha INN
great European war.
The point is, we think, not the precise degree OF
improbabity attaching to war, but the utter
calamity which it would bring to us if we were
unready to meet it. The chance OF mans house
burning down can be reduced to minimum by
proper safeguards; but he continues his insurance
TO protect himself against total loss none the less
Armament is not and was never asserted to be
preventive of war; it does however, in the event
of war give country some chance to limit its
losses and gain some salvage from its disaster
This view is the view Of the country at large,
we are confident. The movement which Repre-
sentative Gardner initiated and which Senator
Lodge yesterday eloquently supported, to secure
an investigation into preparedness for
war is a common-sense demand to know the facts.
1t calls for no vast expansion of our army and
navy, and we do not understand that the National
Security League sets out with any preconceived
demand for increased appropriations. But the
feeling has crystallized that hand in hand with
our endeavor for an international policing of the
world must go calm and clear-headed resolve to
police our own hemisphere until the hour of world
agreement is certainly arrived. We have taken
our army and navy for granted. 1t is now borne
in upon US that these weapons may not be as ade-
quate as we supposed. Let us know the facts.
The Tribune proposes to lend every assistance it
can TO the discovery of these facts, and we are
glad to welcome the newly formed league in its
organization of public opinion. There is already
opposition in Washington to any form of investi-
CATION or debate that hints at the possibility OF
anything save utter and unendng peace. This
must be fought and overcome. The country must
know the truth and must prepare to guard itself
intelligently. Our voice for peace will be heard
with more respect, not less, among the nations Of
the world if we first show ourselves able to lool
facts in the face and to act with confidence and
courage.