Omaha daily bee., 1915-12-11
GARRISON HINTS
AT CONSUMPTION
Secretary Says Compulsory Military
Service is Alternative Of Plan
for Continental Army.
THINKS WAR Is DUE TO COME


some form OF compulsory military service.
There are some who do not feel free
TO base their conduct upon a consideration
OF facts or conclusions OF reason because
of their Interpretation OF divine injunc-
tion" he says. They do not believe I'm
resistance TO physical force. and those
whose consciences are so convinced sur
render life and all that they cherish and
love at the behest of the aggressor. This
attitude concerns the individual, and him
alone. II cannot be made the general
rule Of conduct under our form Of gov
eminent without departing from the basis
upon which our government Is founded.
One Ia impelled TO query upon what
proper consideration there - based any
distinction between the right or necessity
or desirabiiity Of using mental force 70
repel error, moral force 20 repel evil and
physical force to repel wrong IL would
seem. II reason were applied. that In each
instance the situation Is Identical; and
that II We should properly prepare our
minds 20 be strong so that we can reject
error. and our moral characters to be
strong 30 that we can reject evil. we
should likewise make our physical force
strong IN order that we may maintain
the right as against those who would
physically impose the wrong upon US.
Thinks War sure 90 Come.
There are others concerning whose
clarity OF vision we are not advised. ard
concerning whose soundness OF reason we
are not Informed. because the attitude
which they take II admittedly not based
upon either vision or reason. They are
~ ~.rflI
come to this country. and assert that
therefore precautions with respect thereto
are unwise and needless. Since wars have
come upon nations from the earliest date
OF recorded history 20 this moment there
Is no basis OF fact for such a position.
but. an actual denomination OF the nom
existence OF such basis We were early
warned that there would be wars and
rumors OF wars. and that nation would
rise against nation and Kingdom against
kingdom, and tho end was not yet; and
that prediction has been fully verified.
There is no basis and no foundation to
conclude that this great evil has been
eliminated. and Il therefore must be
treated as are all other existing evils. and
must be prepared against Surely. as be-
tween resting upon prediction or upon
preparation. wisdom would not hesitate.
There are others among us who are
too intelligent and clear-sighted not TO
see the facts and to realize their signifi-
canoe. but who counsel inactlon because
they mistrust themselves and tho nation.
Those 20 whom I now refer do not be-
lieve in the doctrine OF nonresistance;
they do not rest upon the prediction that
an evil which has existed since the world
began has ceased 70 exist and been abol-
iEhed, and should not therefore be con-
sidered as one 60 be prepared against;
they even point out our potentiaiity Of
force. but they counsel against any prep
aration thereof They base this counsel
upon the expressed fear that II we pos
sess force we Will be induced to use Il
when we should not. This position ig-
nores the responsibilities which we have
undertaken and which we must maintain
at any self-sacrifice. II ignores the fact
that II nations which possess force are
likely TO use Il when they should not,
some nation which has such force Is likely
10 use Il against us whom It should not.
II assumes that our nation may not be
trusted with force for fear that It may
misuse Il.
Preparedness Not Msiitnrisrn.
The eyes Of many are blinded TO fact
and their minds closed to reason by an
adherence OF what they term 'miiitar-
ISM without any actual conception Of
just what this means or how Il should
affect the proper consideration OF the
subject. Those who really fear mslitar-
Ism, or. moro accurately stated. those
who dread real miitarism. should be the
strongest advocates OF reasonable prep
aration. Tho latter Is the preventive OF
militafisin II they unwisely defeat rea-
aonable preparedness, they leave the
country In condition where the inevi-
table result OF defeat. humiliation or
acute apprehension win be hasty and nj
advised provisions as 10 armament far
beyond anything which calm reason and
wise provision would deem necessary.
There viii be those who assert that
the proposed policy opposes the tradl-
tons OF the people ana runs counter
thereto. This Is nero assertion; It Is not
the fact. and IN truth the fact Is to the
contrary. The proposed policy "a exactly
In keeping with our traditions.
There will also be those who win ex-
press regret that the policy heretofore
pursued. Of lack of proper military pre-
cautions Is to be departed from because
Il has been invaluable as an example TO
the rest OF the world and we should not
remedy the lack because we would then
cease 70 DO Rich an example Il should
be observed first. in considering this
point Of view. that we should protect and
defend that which we cherish and hold
dear. Furthermore. Il oyerlooks the fact
that although we have been lust the ex-
ample that they desire throughout the
more than a century ana a quarter OF our
existence, the results existing IN the
world today do not warrant the belief
that our example has had any beneficial
effect
VIII Not Provoke War.
There are some who decry taking any
precautions or making any preparations
q the military power Of the nation be-
cause they say Il VIII not prevent war.
but will provoke a. Men ana nations
must prepare 70 meet their responsibili-
ties; Il It d lnadvlsabie 10 develop
strength sufficient 10 repel wrong be-
cause such developed strength may he
misused. human nature has indeed
reached an impasse. Why should Il be
presumed that Just man or a just ma
ton viii cease 70 bo Just because Il has
the power 70 unjuatf We must either
- al.