The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1915-08-13
NATIONS VITAL NEEDS FOR
BETTER DEFENSE DISCUSSED
Secretary of War Garrison and Secretary of the Navy Daniels
Urge Importance of Adequate OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
and Inventors Tell What Must Be Done.

NDN HN NNN H0NNN N0HNS 10 ~N NJ .
tive. l cannot understand the attitude of any unprecedented, rea-
soning mind that does not realize this imperative necessity.
In all other relations of life we estimate the distinction
between wisdom and folly with respect to the exercise of pre-
caution and foresight, and, from the time of the wise and fool
ish virgins of the Scripture, condemn those who fail to give
f%orethought.
Nc one thinks Of excusing the foolish virgins for failure
to put oil in their lamps upon the ground that there was little
likelihood they would need light; or upon the ground that if
they did need it, it would be time enough then to consider
the means of getting it. In a matter so easily brought home
to even a juvenile mind it was easy to impress the lesson. We
all know that darkness is inevitable and that need for a light
in that darkness may be imperative; and that unless precau-
tons have been taken so that a light may be obtained, the
irretrievable may happen.
The most abundant material for making light is of no
avail unless it has been by f~orethought and precaution kept
at hand for use in time of need.
Just so in the matter of national defense. We have some
thing like 5000 years of recorded history from which to draw
our lessons. We know that from the individual to the nation,
whatever is worth while is not only obtained by struggle, but
can only be retained by precautions or preparations to strug-
gle against the aggressive forces that viii seek to take it from
you.
In no other matter does the wise man count precaution
or preparation against what may be expected as lost, nor seek
to justify himself for failing to take proper f~orethought by
trusting to chance. He realizes that it is a customary obliga-
ton to take proper precautions to protect that which he cher
ishes just as much as it is to provide immediate necessities.
Those, of course, who hold religious convictions against
the use of force for any purpose must follow those convictions
and admittedly do not indulge in reason or logic. But how any,
one who is not thus actuated can look the facts of life and
history squarely in the face and fail to see the absolute nee
essty from every standpont-the necessity for a nation to
take proper precautions with respect to its own defenseI
cannot conceive.
To contend in the face of facts that war may not come
to any nation is too puerile to require consideration. To con-
tend that if it does come the nation is not immeasurably safer
if it has not taken proper precautions would be impossible
for a sane mind to suggest. If war may come even to the most
unaggressive nation on earth, and if the nation, when war
does come, imperatively requires that which precaution should
have provided, how can there be two sides to the question?
The truth of the matter is that the real reason which
lies back OF much objection to military precaution is a dis
trust with despect to its use. l think it is a fearful Indictment
OF the American people to say that in the face of every reason
making for preparedness for trouble we should fail to follow
reason and take precaution because we might misuse our
strength.
What about other nations that are strong? Is there no
danger of their misusing their strength against us?
What a curious state of mind it is which must admit that
for one course of action, which, however, should not be taken
all things considered in the light of reason call imperatively
because of prejudice of fear; the fear being the misuse of
trained strength!
Like every other great national problem, there is only
one way to go about solving it. We should fearlessly look the
facts squarely in the face. We should apply unprecedented rea-
son thereto. We should analyze the lessons of history and con-
slider the conditions existing to-day. And then we should do
what reason and the ordinary dictates of prudence demand.
Nothing of value is ever gained by ignoring the truth bv
seh-deluslon or by substituting pleasant fancies for unpleas-
ant facts. When the people of this country concentrate their
attention upon this subject and realize, as they must do, that
the objections to wise, reasonable, adequate military precau-
tons are without substance, and to omit doing that which
ought to be done invites peril, if not disaster, then there will
be an end to all debate and discussion as to the basis of action
and a beginning of the only useful, sensible discussion, which
is: What is, under all circumstances, the reasonable. sensible
adequate thing to do2
The Administration is and for a long time has been DIV
ing constant, concentrated and, l hope, intelligent and com.
%prehensive study to this subject, with a view of suggesting
what the reasonable, sensible, adequate course of procedure
should be. 1t goes without saying that this is a subject mat
ter of which there is absolutely no more place for party noH-
itice than there is for personal prejudice.
An individual may so conduct himself, if he harms no
one but himself, as to leave himself utterly helpless as against
aggression Of any sort, physical or spiritual, but the very in.
stanty that any other persons rights are bound up with that
individual, or depend on him, he has no such right. His i'm
perative duty then is to guard, protect and defend.
That this duty of guarding, protecting and defending is
of the very essence Of government is a trusm, and the real
question before the American people is whether thew purnose
fulfilling this duty or neglecting il.