The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-11-28


settle the issues In accordance with
their own strength and position. I'm
der such conditions we shall be treat
ed as we deserve to be treated. a.
nation of people who mean well
feebly, whose words are not backed
by deeds. who like to prattle about
both their own strength and their
own Righteousness. but who are un-
will to run the risks without which
Righteousness cannot be effectively
served. and who are also unwill-
ing to undergo the toll of fntelli-
gent and hard-working preparation
without which strength when tested
proves weakness.
Good Things Come High.
In this world 1t is as true of ma
tions as OF individuals that the things
best worth having are rarely to be OBJ
tanned IN cheap fashion. There Is MOTH
ing easier. and normally nothing more
futile, than to meet in congresses ana
conventions and pass resolutions In IA
vOr OF virtue, unless those passing the
resolutions are willing to make them
good by labor and endurance and active
courage and self denial. Readers OF
John Hays poems will remember the
scorn therein expressed for those VINO
"resoloot till the cows come home.
but do not put effort back OF their
words. Those who would teach our
people that service can be rendered or
greatness attained in easy, comfortable
fashion. without facing risk. hardship
and difficulty, are teaching what Is
false and mischievous.
Courage. hard work. self-mastery. and
intelligent effort are all essential to
successful life. AS a rule, the sloth-
full ease OF life is in inverse proportion
to its success. This is true of the pri-
vate lives Of farmers, business men and
mechanics. 1t is no less true OF the IKE
OF the nation which is made up of these
farmers. business men and mechanics.
AS yet, as events have most pain
fully shown, there is nothing to be ex-
pected by any nation in a great crisis
from anything except its own strength.
Under these circumstances 1t Is GRIM
inal in the United States not to pre-
pare. Critics have stated that in ad-
vocating universal military service on
the Swiss plan in this country, am
advocating militarism. am not con-
cerned with mere questions of termino-
logy. The plan 1 advocate would be
a corrective OF every evil which we as
sociate with tho name of militarism. 1t
would tend for order and self-respect
among our people.
Not the smallest evil in America
among the many evils that exist is due
to militarism. Save in the crisis OF
the Civil war there has been no mill
tarism in the United States and the
only militarist president we have ever
had was Abraham Lincoln. Universal
service Of the Swiss type would be edu-
catiOnal in the highest and best sense
Of the word.
In Switzerland, as compared with the
United States, there are, relatively to
the population. only one-tenth the num-
Der of murders and Of crimes Of vfo-
lence. Doubtless other causes have con-
IL %t&es
intelligent collective training of the
Swiss people in habits Of obedience,
of self-reliance, self restraint and en-
durance, of applied patriotism and col
lective action, has been a very potent
factor in producing this good result.
Plan to Seize Panama Canal.
AS I have already said. know of
my own knowledge that two nations
which on certain occasions were
obliged, perhaps as much by our fault
as by theirs, to take into account the
question of possible war with the
United States, then planned in such
event to seize the Panama. canal and
to take ransom or destroy certain of
our great coast cities. They planned
this partly on the belief that our navy
would intermittently be allowed to be-
come extremely inefficient. just as dur
ing the last twenty months it has be-
come inefficient, and partly on the be-
lief that tour people are wholly unnili-
tary, and so ridden to death on the
one hand by foolish pacificists and on
the other by brutal materialists whose
only god Is money. that we would not
show ourselves either resolutely patri-
otto or efficient even in what belated
action our utter lack of preparation
permitted us to take.
1 believe that these nations were and
are wrong in their estimate of the un-
DERIVING strength Of the American
no ofo hn1i hQf
really come both the ultra-pacificists.
the peace-at-at-price men, and the
merely brutal materialists who count
all else as nothing compared to the
qualification Of their greed for gain or
their taste for ease, for pleasure and
for vacuOus excitement, would be driv-
en- before the gale of popular feeling as
leaves are driven through the fall
| woods. But such aroused public feel
| ing in the actual event would be wholly
| inadequate to make good our failure to
, prepare.
We should in all humility initiate not
| a little of the spirit SO much in evil
dence among the Germans and the
| Japanese. the two nations which in
| modern times have shown the most
est devotion to the common veal, the
greatest success in developing their
| economic resources and abilities from
within, and the greatest far-sighted-
| ness IN safeguarding the country
against possible disaster from without.
In the Journal of the Military Service
Institution for the months of Novem-
Der and December Of the present year
will be found a quotation from a Jap
anese military paper, THE Comrades
Magazine" which displays an amount
Of practical good sense together with
patriotism and devotion to the welfare
of the average man which could well
be copied by our people and which is
worthy Of study by every intelligent
American. Germany's success in in
dustrialism has been as extraordinary
and noteworthy as her success in secur-
ing military efficiency, and funda-