New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-07
The Craftsmanship of Hindsight.


himself in December, 1915, 1t will be use
ful TO recall the ideas Of national pre-
paredness to which he committed himself
In December, 1914. When he delivered his
message to Congress a year ago the war
had been under way for four months.
That this great world disturbance would
react on US in a hundred ways was al
ready obvious. 1t was clear that 1t must
affect our finance, industry and commerce,
our international relations and our dones-
dc politics. Nobody could say that we
would be able TO keep out Of It, and, how
ever II might end, it was pretty certain
70 leave US, if we did keep out, at odds
with one or both Of the belligerent groups
more isolated In a diplomatic sense than
we had been since the time Of the Napo-
leonic wars and the Holy Alliance.
Our first duty to ourselves was to arm
against future contingencies. The lighting
IN Europe had shown that our military
system was a pitiful anachronism. Even
Mr.. Wilson's Secretary of War took alarm
and suggested an increase Of our mobile
regular army which would make 1t four
times as big, instead of twice as big, as
the New York City police force.
But President Wilson would not hear
~ adding to the strength Of the regular
army-the only force IN any sense avail
able for the defence Of our soil should
hostile army succeed in making landing.
Hare Is what Mr.. Wilson said in Deem
Der, 1914:
let ma remind ourselves, therefore, OF the
onlv thing we can do or will do. We must
depend In every time Of national peril, In
the future es In the past, not upon stand
ING army. nor vet upon reserve army, but
unon a citizenry trained and accustomed to
arms. II will be right enough, right Ameri-
can policy, based upon our accustomed Prin-
cinI.s and practices, 70 provide a system by
which every citizen who will volunteer for
the training may be made familiar with the
use Of modern arms, the rudiments Of drill
and mannuvre and the maintenance and
sanitation OF camps. IL is right too,
that the national guard Of the states should
be developed and strengthened by every
means which Is not inconsistent with our
obligations to our own people or with the
established policy Of our government. .
More than this carries with IL reversal
Of the whole history and character Of our
polity. More than this proposed at this time
permit me TO say, would mean merely that
we had lost our self-possession, that 100 had
been thrown of our balance by War t0ith
tohich soe haze nothing to do, tohose causes
spbo ~5ofO of
fords us opportunities of friendship anc
disinterested service which should make ~
ashamed Of any thought Of hostility Oh
fearful preparation for trouble.
What pathetic self-deception! Hardl.
two months from the day Of this conf
dent declaration that the European wa
could not touch US the administration wa
sending to Germany q virtual ultimatum
giving notice that II would not tolerat
the numbering Of American citizens tray
cling on the unarmed merchant ships o
Germany's enemies. Germany defied on
warning, sank the Lusitania and mur
dered more than one hundred America
citizens: and the refusal of the German
government to disavow that crime an
offer reparation for It makes the though
of hostility" TO Germany very real, anC
after six months Of fruitless waiting TO
satisfaction, very deep-seated and yer,
ranking.
IL Mr.. Wilson had ever meant wha
he said In the "strict accountability" not
OF February 10, or IN the first Lusitanii
note Of May IS, he would have callet
Congress In extra session long ago, woulc
have apologized for the follies of his mes
sage of December Il, 1914, and would hav'
started the country on the way 70 achiev'
condition Of military preparedness capa
bic Of making our diplomatic protestationi
read like something more than empt!
threats TO the German government.
lie did not do this. He let preparation
wait on ineffective diplomacy--ineffectivc
because there was no evidence of adequate
physical force behind il.
Congress has now met again, In com
pliance with law, not because the Presi
dent has sought or desired It's cooperation
in repairing the blunders Of year ago o.
in putting the nation IN state 10 max,
It's protestations mean something. Il
does not expect 10 hear to-day a repet
ton Of the bald inanities Of the messag,
Of December last. II is not in a mood I,
be contented with such barren localities
Il wants 20 hear the President outline
real scheme Of military reorganization, I
policy which will give the United State
Al modern military system and real, no
~ nake-believe army.
To-day, therefore, the self-suficiency o
THE 1914 message Is on trial. The fatuou
I boast that I'VE shall not alter our attitude
toward II fthe subject Of preparedness.
because some among W are nervous ant