The Washington herald., 1915-12-07
Preparedness.
o. JOHN D. sAnRY.

. There is no doubt that preparedness Is impefa.
tive. But preparedness for what! When the sub.
ject comes up, it is always preparedness for war;
But war is the exceptional, the abnormal eosdi.
tious n is disease. How is disease treated At the
present time? Is the emphasis laid on expecting
it and planning for its treatment! 1t used to be,
OF recent years there has been great Change
The emphasis is now placed on prevention. The
plaques, for example. were very like war. They
moved down whole armies of people. But nowa-
days one seldom or never hears solicitude express
ed about plague. What is the reason? As we all
know, it is simple enough. The conditions that
used to breed the plaques have been removed In
civilized communities plague is now virtually
impossible.
Wars, however, are not impossible. They are
not even improbable. Many people in this coun-
try accept war as inevitable. They say that we
must fight Japan or must fight Germany. They
ask us to get ready. They urge us to be on our
guard. If the physical attitude alone the
result of their urging the situation would be costly
But it is much worse. Behind it there is mental
attitude which. in itself. is menace, expressing
suspicion and the wretched qualities that 60 with
suspicion. the bias that emphasizes goodwill to-
ward ones own country by means of ill-will to-
ward another.
When we look at preparedness for war in this
way we cannot fail to see that it is a long step
in the direction of war. Ii is invitation to war.
like the small boys elenching his fists in read-
ness for a fight. Suspicious and prepared himself.
the small boy makes the other boys suspicious
and prepared. They, too, clench their fists Now
the tension is on, likely at any moment to be
broken by the release of the pent-up energy.
Let US be prepared, by all means. But let US
decide what to be prepared for and look It
sqyarely in the face. Shall it be the slaughter
that is now going on in Europe! Must We sow
the seeds for fine crop OF widows and orphans
and cripplcs and homeless wanderers, adding a
vastly larger army to present army OF paupers
When We speak of armies do not think OF this
army, marching woefully through the years.
War is glorious. In it fine qualities reach inn
pressive expression. hcroisnl. humanity seeming
to soar beyond itself kind of grandeur. For
this reason among other reasons, it is creditable
to take the warlike attitude, even to praise war.
The advocates OF preparedness for war feel that
they are rcflcctng some Of the bravery that goes
with this kind OF heroism. They will even swag-
ger, like most imitation heroes. Theirs IS an easy
kind of superiority. and it is always accompanied
usually with success, to make weak IN appearance
or ridiculous. 1t is amusing to hear some OF these
self designated heroes. Among them, 1t IS true
there arc many who do not boast and who arc
sincere in their attitude to the point OF genuine
regret that war should be they say, neees-
sary" Even they, as they look about. must realize
that they arc in poor company. II to praise war
required an immediate personal sacrifice. there
would be far less clamoring than there is now for
preparedness.