El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-10-10

RON what VIC have so far consid-
X cred, two things are evident
L First IT is quite clear that in the
world rs it is at this moment stu
ated. It is literally criminal. literally
a crime against the nation. not to be
adequately and thoroughly prepared
in advance, so as TO guard ourselves
and hold our own IN war. We should
hive a much better army than at pres
eut including especially far larger
reserve upon which to draw in time
Of war we should have first class
Notifications. especially on the canal
and in Hawaii Most important Of all,
we should not only have a good navy,
but should have IT continually exer-
cised in maneuvering- At present our
navy does not begin to have the
maaeuTerinE IN fleet formation inols-
Dcnsahle 20 its efficiency
OF all the lessons hitherto taught by
the war. The most essential for US TO
take TO heart IS that taught BY the
catastrophe thar has oeIalIen SCI
GUM One side of this catastrophe,
one lesson taught by Belglum's case,
is the immense gain IN the self respect
OF a people that have dared TO fight
heroicaIy in the face OF certain dis
aste- and possible defeat Every Bel
Eian throughout the world carries his
head higher now than he has ever
carried II before, because OF the proof
Of virile strength that his people nave
The World Cares Little
In the world at large there is not
the slightest interest concerning Lux
emburg's ultimate fate; there is moth
ing more than amusement as TO the
discussion whether Japan or Germany
is most TO blame in connection with
the INFRINGEMENT of Chinese neutrality
T7=4e e- nlaH III
emburg has been able and willing ef-
fectively to stand for her own rights
At this moment Luxembourg IS en-
loving ''peace'-the peace Of death
But Belgium has stood for her own
rights. She has shown heroism. cour-
age, and self sacrifice, and great
though the penalty the ultimate re-
ward will be greater still
If ever this country IS attacked ana
drawn into war as Belgium. through
no fault Of her own, was drawn INTO
war, I hope most earnestly that she
will emulate BelgiGm'S courage. ana
this she cannot do, unless she is pre-
pared in advance, as Belgium was pre-
pared. In one point as have already
stated. / very earnestly hope that she
will 20 beyond Belgium II any great
CITY such as New York or San Fran
cisco, Boston or Seattle, is held for
ransom by a foreign Zoe 1 earnestly
nope that Americans, within the city
and without, viii insist LnaI NOT one
dollar Of ransom shall be paid and
will gladly acquiesce in the absolute
destruction of the city. by fire or IN
any other manner. rather than see
dollar paid into the war chest OF our
foes for the further prosecution Of the
war against US
Pay for Their Own Conquest
Napoleon the Great made many re-
gi0ns pay for their own conquest and
the conquest Of the nations TO which
they belonged. But Spain and Russia
would not pay, and the burning Of
Moscow and the defence Of Saragossa
marked the two great stages in the
turn Of the tide against him The
prime lesson of this war is that no
nation can preserve its own sel1-re-
specL OF the good viii Of other nations
unless IL keeps itself ready to exact
justice from others, precisely as II
should keep itself eager and willing
to do justice TO others.
The second lesson is the utter made
luacy of existing peace and neutrality
treaties, and Of all treaties conceived
in the spirit Of the all inclusive arbi-
tratiou treaties recently adopted at
Washington. and. in fact. Of all treat
les which DO not put potential force
behind the treaty. which do not create
some kind of international police
power to stand behind International