The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-08-11
President Wilson ON National Defense

H.. In yesterdays sun that the presi-
dent lis planning to make national
defense one OF the principal subjects
In his next message to congress- has
semi-official sound and suggests even
more than Ia says. In his last mes
sage To congress. while indorsing rea-
sonable measures OF national prepara-
tion. the president protested against
turning the United states into a vast
military camp. In doing so he express
ed faithfully the sentiment OF the
country at that time. and his policy
represented all that seemed necessary
then TO national safety. hut we. as
well as the rest OF the world, have
lived about twenty years since last
December. We had not then fully
measured the meaning OF the Euro
pean conflict. nor its possible conse-
quences to ourselves. As II has gone
on. month after month. It's spirit and
significance have developed more
clearly. and most OF us are now oe-
ginning. to see that we are interested
In II not only commercially and SEN
umentally. but vitality as possible bel
hgerents sooner or later.
Even IL we are able to avoid being
drawn into the present war by the sue
tion OF the great struggle. IL Is mani
fest that We must be prepared for
what an angry future may bring forth.
No matter how the war may end. 1t
will leave many Dragons teeth w ip-
tofnauonal soil. many old scores ,n-
settled. many new scores 20 lie reck-
oned with. After tho war. what
Wen. almost &Hyth.Ds, e~cep. e.e.aa!
peace.
Mr.. Wilson Is one Of our few public
men who Is not afraid to change his
mind. and who Is not afraid to admit
that he has changed his mind. We
have all changed our minds In the last
eight OF ten months because we real
ize that we confront an utterly chang
ed situation. The president has had
this driven home to his inner con-
sciousness, in common with the great
majority OF Americans, and the dis
patch from Cornish. read between the
lines. seems to indicate that he Is
ready To recommend defensive prepar-
ations that few OF us last year con-
sidered likely to be necessary.
The national military program will
be strictly defensive. but an adequate
defense for such country as this
means necessarily an extensive one.
VIZ have given hostages TO fortune In
the Panama Canal. In the Philippines
and In Hawaii. and self-interest and
honor alike compel us to be prepared
TO protect them I'm case OF challenge.
The Monroe Doctrine Is more likely to
be called In question by a triumphant
power after this war than ever before,
and We must be ready TO assert IL
against all comers. In word. while
wo do not know what may happen be-
fore this war Is over, or after IL Is
over. II Is evident that II has greatly
widened the field OF possible interna-
tional complications and that we can
no longer AFFORD TO continue our ira
ditionai policy OF military lethargy.
We must look far ahead and plan f.,
contingencies on "a large scale. IL we
would make sure OF safety. II may
be true that the nation Is thrice arm
ed which hath its quarrel just. but
that country is n hundred times armed
which has plenty Of big guns and
rifles ready for use and men who
know how To use them.
We are glad to believe the president
has been impressed by the necessity OF
adopting extraordinary measures OF
defense tO meet an extraordinary sit.
uatiOn. Such "a change OF attitude To.
ward this question does not mean q
change In our spirit toward the sub
ject OF peace. or hostile design,
against any other nation. II Is simp
~ putting up an international sign
board. big enough for everybody Il
see. OF "no trespassing permitted" u
we had II up today. we would no
have To debate so many questions
with Germany and Great Britain.
our coast defenses were formidable
IL our navy was OF the first class, 4
we could mobilize i'm week an arm,
OF n million trained men, with u pro
portionate number of reserves read.
to step into their places when needed
would either of the belllgerents b
kicking our hound dog around" a
they are doing now?-Baltimor Sun