El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-09-26
nerica Should Learn From the War

our own supine folly. upon our own
timidity and weakness, and we would
be adjudsed unfit 70 hold what We had
shown ourselves too soft and too short
sighted to retain
Treaties worthless.
The first and most obvious lesson
taught by what has occurred is the
utter worthIessness. Of treaties unless
backed by force Tt is evident that as
things are now. all inclusive arbitra-
ton treaties. neutrality treaties, trea-
ties Of alliance and the like do not
serve one particle Of good in protect
ing a peaceful nation when some great
military power deems its vital needs
at stake. unless the rights Of this
peaceful nation are backed by force.
The devastation Of Belgium. the
burning Of L0uvain, the holding OF
Brussels TO heavy ransom. the killing
Of women and children. the wreckinE
Of houses in Antwerp by bombs from
airships have excited genuine sympathy
among neutral nations but no neutral
nation has protested and 1t would be
worse than useless to protest unless
back of the protest lay force
Keep Armed for safety.
Let our people remember that what
has been done TO Belgium would IN
questiOnably be done TO US by any
great military power with which we
! were drawn into war. no matter how
just our cause Moreover IL would be
part Of neutral nations than we have
ourselves made in the case of Belgium.
IF, as an aftermath Of this war, some
great old world power or combination
Of powers made war on US because we
objected 20 their taking and terrifying
Magdalena Bay or St Thomas. our
chance Of securing Justice would rest
exclusively on the efficiency OF our
fleet and army. especially the fleet
No arbitration treaties. or peace trea-
ties. OF the kind recently negotiated at
Washington by the bushel fun, and no
repid good viii Of neutral powers,
would help US In even the smallest de-
gree
II This Happened-
II our fleet were conquered. New
York and san Francisco would be seizz d
and probably each would be destroyed
as Louvaln was destroyed unless II
were put 70 ransom as Brussels has
been put TO ransom Under such cir
cumstances outside powers would IN
dOubtedly remain neutral exactly as we
have remained neutral as regards Bel
GUM
Under such conditions ny own view
is very strongly that the national in
terest would be best served by refus-
ing the payment OF all ransom and
accepting the destruction Of the cities
and then continuing the war until by
our own strength and indomitable viii
We had eLacred ample atonement from
our foes This would be a terrible
and those responsible for the unpre-
paredness would be guilty Of a crime
against the nation
Guilt OF Blood and Misery.
Upon them would rest the guilt OF
all the blood and misery The innocent
would have 20 atone for their folly and
strong men would have to undo and
offset IL by submitting 70 the obstruc-
ton OF our cities rather than consent
10 save them by paying money which
he
against the rest Of the country II
our people are wise and farsfehted
and II they stil have in their blood the
iron OF the men who fought under
Grant and Lee. they viii. in the event
OF such a war. insist upon this price
lowed.
They will then IN the end exact
from the nation which assails Us. atone
ment for the misery. and redress for
the wrong done They viii not rely
upon the Ineffective good viii OF ueu-
tral- outsiders They VIII show n
temper that VIII make cur foes think
twice before meCdling with US again
Danger to Peace.
me great danger 10 peace so far as
this country is concerned arises from
such pacificists as those who have
made and applauded our recent aIIin-
elusive arbitration treaties. who advo-
cate the abandonment OF our policy Of
building battleships and the refusal 10
fortify the Panama canal
18th Is always possible that these per
sons may succeed in imnressing for
eign nations with the belief that they
represent our people II they ever
do succeed in creating this conviction
In the minds OF other nations. the fate
or the United states viii speedily be
that OF China and Luxembourg or else
II VIII be saved therefrom only BY
long Drawn war, accompanied by in
credible blood shed and disaster.
Fighters Friends Of Peace.
IL IS we who would go 10 the front
IN such a Way-as I and NY four sons
would go-who are the really far
sighted and earnest friends OF peace.
We desire measures taken in the real
interest OF peace because we. who at
need would fight but who earnestly
hope never to be forced TO fight. have
most ut stake in keeping peace
We object to the actions Of those
who do most talking about the neces-
s-ty Of peace because we think thew are
really menace 70 the just and honor
able peace, which alone this country
VIII IN the long run support We OBJ
1ect 10 their actions because we believe
tnev represent a course OF conduct
Wnlcn may at any time produce a war
and suffer
Those Who Pay.
In such war the prime fact TO be
remembered is that the men reaII,- re-
sponslole FOR it would not be those
who would pay the penalty. The u1tra-
paclIlclSts are rarely men who 90 70
battle Their fault or their folly would
Pc eNpiated by the blood Of countless
thousands OF plain and decent Amer
lcan citizens OF the stamp OF those.
North and South alike. who m me
civil war laid down all they had in
Guiding life itself. in battling for the
risht as It was given 10 them 10 see
the right-Copyrisht 1914 BY the
Wheeler Syndicate. Inc
She sure does know how to take care
Of herself"