New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-10

this place, first and last, and now they
be prepared against; they even point
out cur potentiality of force, but they
counsel against any preparation there
Of.
"They base this counsel upon the
expressed fear that II we possess force
we will be induced to use 1t when we
should not. This position ignores the
responsibilities which we have under
taken and which we must maintain at
any self-sacriiice IL ignores the fact
that if nations which possess force are
likely to use il when they should not,
some nation which has such force IS
likely 10 use u against US when "
should not. Il assumes that our nation
NAV not be trusted with force for fear
that it may misuse II.
"The ewes of many are blinded TO
fact and their minds closed 20 reason
bv an adherence OF what they term
'militarism,' without any actual con
ception of lust what the means or how
il should affect the proper considera-
ton of the subject. Those who really
fear militarism, or, more accurately
stated. those who dread real mllltarlsm,
reasonable preparation. -,
THE latter is the preventive OF mill
tarism. II they unwisely defeat rea-
sonable preparedness they leave the
country in a condition where the IN
eyitable result Of defeat, humiliation or
acute APPREHENSION will be hasty ana
ill-advised provisions as To- armament
far beyond anything which calm rea-
son and wise provision would deem
necessary. .Lo.
There will be those who assert that
ne proposed policy opposes the tradl-
IONS of the people and runs counter
thereto. This is mere asseruoni IL Is
not the fact, and in truth the fact j.
70 the contrary. The proposed pohcy
is exactly in keeping with our tradi-
tons.
Men and Nations Must Prepare.
"Tbere are some VINO decry taking
any precautions or making any prep
arations of the military power OF the
ration because they say II Will nov
uroyent WEI but will provoke II. Men
ard nations mus: prepare to meet thelr
rosnonsibilities: if il is inadvisable 10
develop strength sufficient to repel
wrong because such developed strength
nav be misused. human nature has
indeed reached an impasse. why
should it be presumed that a Just man
or a Just nation will cease to be lust
because il has the power 10 be unjust
We must either trust others or trust
ourselves.
"Another stumbling block to some is
the suggestion that no preparation
should be made and no precauton
should be taken because no one can
foretell how much we may have 10
meet and what we will require 10 meet
il. Here again the IDEA embodied IN
this suggestion would stay all human
progress.
There will be some who assert that
the devastating effects and the horror
produced by the war now being waged
make it certain that war VIII De
avoided for long period Of time after
the close Of the present war They
will argue that the exhaustion OF re-
sources and the recollection OF the
awful suffering will have the effect OF
deterrirg nations from entering upon
war. What basis is there for such be
lief? Certainly such basis cannot be
found in history-our own or that OF
ether nations.
100000 Men Should Be Ready.
Tf the determination arrived at by
those whose knowledge, skill and ex-
perience make their judgment prac-
tically conclusive is accepted, we
should have in this country a force OF
at least 100000 men ready for instan'
response to call in the event Of wsr
or the imminence of war Il is surely
not necessary to state the many rea-
sons why this force may not be sup
piled By a regular standing army OF
that number constantly under arms.
There is no .sgal way that the ma
tional guard CAL, in time Of peace, b.
governed, differed or trained b. the
national government; and there is no
legal way, except by volunteering
that il can be made available TO the
nation in time of war 10 any greater
extent than specified in The Co1st.tu
ton, which confessedly falls short OF
the necessary uses 10 which an army
may have 70 be put in the event OF
war with n foreign nation.
at becomes necessary. therefore, TO
devise some method Of making avail
able for the use of the nation in tims
of war a national force in supplement
of that part of the national force, u
wit, the regular army, which is con-
stantly under arms; part of tn,
army, in other words, to be raised an
maintained by Congress and goyernei
in all respects in accordance with it
directions.
when this system is devised and
made operative the nation would mill.
tarily be in this situation: II would
rave. as the Constitution provides. az.
army raised and maintained by il. com
posed OF a certain number constantly
under arms. and very much larger
number definitely identified in person.
rel. provided with equipment and or
ganization. possessed Of some training.
and subject TO instant call
THE states would have the organized
militia, developed with Federal assist
ance TO the highest practicable point OF
efficiency. available for the purposes
specified In tho Constitution. and 80