The Washington times., 1914-02-16

Ia 1868 the world was startled IN
its course by the almost unbelieN-
able sight Of mere man, in himsy
c"ntraption of canvas, wood. ana
steel upsetting the acknowledge laws
Of nature and solving The problem
of aerial flight. The Wright broth
ers had given to the world the Sc
cret of heavier-than-air flight, IN all
the wealth Of its wonderful posi-
bilities.
The nations. with mouths agape
and eyes wide-propped in astonish-
ment, true to their self-preservation
instinct, srasped the breadth OF the
invention and applied 1t Immediately
To the science OF war.
Workshops and laboratories sprane
up with mushroom-like GROWTH
men of science and daring, research
and elaboration applied their every
energy to the development and ram
ification of the marTel Of the CEN
tury. Not only private individuals,
but legislators and administrators
took the aeroplane at its true value
as a ScathlcS.s scout, mesSenBeE,
and menace, and at the full bosom or
Patriotism, nursed the young idea
until it has expanded and biossomcd
forth into its present strength. a
fourth arm of the service of each
and every one OF tic great powers
except that of its native land, the
United states.
The burden OF possible var is
leayv on the shoulders of the ma
tions and preparedness for II, UNI
Ceasingiy. is the price of their inteG-
,itv. And we, the people OF the
Tnited states. smirking in our COM
pIaisanCy, our belief in our over
Vhclming genius III peace and wal,
our fancied security o" -Solatloi'
surprisingly rich in gold and re-
sources and mighty in numbers
have permitted every power OF the
first class and almost every other
Class to take our conception ana
develop II until their strength in TINS
valuable arm is to ours as an OAK
to a blade OF grass.
America a Sparrow
Ir q Ring of Eagles.
And the United states. indiiterent,
unappreciatIvc Of It's own, is as m
unsusT ectins sparrow within
bristling ring IF hungry caglcs-ra-
r.cious in their need and greed for
trtasur-s and territory.
No man darcS to ad' o"2Tn var as
. .on.uIlm iticn Of desire or to
TcIcomc its possibility: but no man
" n, looks into the ful u!r:, who takes
note of the trend al affairs. IS
I,crialIv if part Of tho rcsDonsibilitE
of our national safety or policy rests
,nou him, con dare to threaten
sovereign people. 10y stripping them
or their means of def"nJ" or by fhll-
i,,.- IN provide such protection.
W, cannot disarm as lon; as one
nossible foe is over sea, aCcoutered III
IN. habiliments of Mars. Helpless.
p-e would be tn" first welcomed
,rey II we cannot Iisarn. II Is a
waste OF wealth TO equip and main
tain an inadequate service; there
fore. il is the cheapest insurance
against a tremendous toll OF blood,
against the pouring out of wealth
like water, to be prepared.
our statesmen, cnErossei Ill the
mighty local affairs of the cotntrH.
taxes. currency, tn" tariff and KIN
dred matters. have not as yet. had
rpptrtunit, to consider seriously the
menuce of uuprcpar"dncss, but 1t
viii come cvcntually-let US hope,
not too late.
Make no mistake. II is not meant
that a huge standing army should
hc maintained. Srch a force is uh-
necessary. But it . mandatory that
certain component parts, Of crying
necessity, material such as iield ar
tillcry and air craft watSA cannot %