St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1915-05-26
Secretary Of War Right.

OCNECAdAy Oh w at
In an academic discussion before
the Lake Mohonk conference last
week Secretary of War Lindley NJ.
Garrison made one of the soundest
statements of Americans duty at the
present time that we have seen since
the present administration took
charge of our national government.
Here are some excerpts from his ad
dress that present his argument on
the question.
The real problem of national de-
tense is how to get the people of this
country to look the facts squarely
in the face.
Turning aside won't dot will
not only not prevent the calamity,
but will also serve to make it's eff
fects more disastrous if and when
it does come.
No sound reason can be adduced
which would justify a sane man in
concluding that isolation alone spells
safety.
Nor can sure reliance be placed
upon our lack of aggressive inten-
ton, our freedom from covetousness,
or our tendency toward righteous
ness.
Self-respect without which man is |
an invertebrate animal, requires that |
we should be prepared to protect |
that which we cherish, which not |
only includes our material posses
sion, but that intangible something
which makes us a distinctive nation
in the eyes of the world.
Hideous as is the face of war,
abhorrent as are the evils consequent
IL -
can not be so fatal to a nation as
would be the failure of that nation
to courageously and fearlessly ascer-
tain its duty and do it.
We are surely not so deluded as
to believe that we can reach by in
tuition what others can only &C
quire by training and experience.
We are surely not so sacrilegious or
irreverent as to believe that ProVi-
dence has unjustly Disseminated in
our favor and against the other peo-
pies of the world.
American institutions are the very [
Ark of the Covenant; and if we are !
worthy to possess them, we must ;
show that we cherish them and will
protect and defend them.
Note he is speaking of national de- 6
Tense, not plunging the country into I
immediate war. Then compare his /
commonsense statements with the g
nicely turned phrases of the presi- |
dent in his Indianapolis speech about I
a nation being too proud to fight I
and being 80 just it is not neces- Y
sary to fight" The president shows 4
about as much sense as a man corner
ed by a grizzly bear would in reading
Shakespeare to the beast. But the
of war realizes that we are
facing conditions that literature or S
history cannot reach. No American r
wants war but every intelligent one L
does desire an organization of our Y
military and naval forces that will
enable us to secure our rights with !,
out war. Il
If there was no war and no en- i:
croachment upon the rights of Amer a
lean citizens the twaddlings of the I
diarmamentists and the peace at n
any price" weaklings might be list S
ened to. But there is war on every
side of us. Americans are being y
murdered on the high seas and in .
Mexico and the rights of American a
commerce violated. Our lack of e
aggressive intention, our freedom = =
from covetousness, or our tendency "
toward righteousness" have no force L
in these conditions. If America is
to protect itself against the lawness- :
ness of the European nations at war 8
and Mexico and from the covetous- :
ness of Japan and Germany it must ]
so perfect it's national defenses that
1t can do so. If it fails to do so it
is sure to suffer disaster and national
The reply of Germany to
Americas note will not be what it
would be If we were in position to in
fict the punishment they deserve