The daily Alaskan., 1915-02-19
EDITORIAL P A C E

I attack by us, or conOlnaIlon OI conditions which no one can fore see, could induce one or a group ot them to enter upon the tremendous ly expensive and probably uncertain and unprofitable task of an expedi- tion against the United States. For a hundred years, except for the fare ical Spanish naval journey to the
 West Indies, there has been no at tack, and during the most of this time our preparations have been far , less adequate than now.
 Nor is there any more danger from Japan. Everyone who felt the temper of the Japanese govern ment and people is sure that neither interest nor desire exists for an Am erican war, q war which would be without prospect of final success and would break them down with fin- ancial burdens they are in no condi- ton 10 stand. If we would bring half the thought and influence to bear on our government to make it absolutely just and generous ill our treatment of other natiCrS, that some of us spend in fearful anticipation of wha will never come, we will be i'm mune from war for a generation ahead. These considerations might induce us at least to postpone our great expenditures till the lessons and the results of the present war 1 are more clearly seen.
 Again if we, as we hope, shall some time in the near future be able to act as a mediator and peacemaker among the warning na- tions, we must approach the issue with clean hands and free from sus- picion of ulterior motives. We
 must say to them in a voice which
 they will respect, that we have
 nothing to gain from them in the way of territory or national privi- leges. We have only little ar my for police purposes and navy not strong enough for aggression.
 We have made no preparations to
 grasp anything for ourselves. We. should, if they wish, willingly act
 as arbiter or simply provide the
 machinery for their negotia-
 tious. We want, for the good of all, peace restored on a satisfactory, permanent basis, and we hope to gain for ourselves nothing but our share
 Of the blessings which will follow
 this consummation, Only in this
 way can we do our duty.
 + we begin to arm because we are behind in the race for armaments there is no end to the process eX- cept a great war. With every in crease abroad there will be new cry for new appropriations here. The burden of taxation, now already being severely felt in certain quar- ters, will grow by leaps. Now two thirds of our national expenditures
 go to warlike purposes, including pensions. This vast sum will be in | creased much more rapidly than our resources, and either a6ded taxes or the withdrawal of aid from in-
 ternal developments will follow. l How much wiser to make our poten- ttal resources of use to our people and the world, food, and clothing cheaper, wages better and more homes happy, than to go into this unproductive venture, which, as present conditions show, always end in war;
 Whatsoever a man soweth that shall he reap" and beginning on a course of warlike preparation, with the general awakening of the mili- tary spirit and the contagious en- thusiasm which will follow, famed by our increasing army and navy followers, and the commercial in- terests, will put us in such a condi- tion that on the least provocation We will place our equipment in action. Armaments mean war De- pendence upon justice means peace, and We shall reap as we SOW.
 What then are the duties of Am erican citizens in this crisis?
 To develop a universal feeling, to | allay race and national prejudices | and suspicious which often ripen in- to war.
 To cultivate a judicial attitude which will take the viewpoint of an alien nation and appreciate its req souable demands.