The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-21
A Plea for Unpreparedness.

To n EDITOR OF THE SUH-Str:
There have been reasons given for this
war, the most terrific and terrible In
h worlds history. hut the cause wal
preparedness. Preparedness on the part
OF one nation thorough and long con-
tinued led TO fear. Fear drove other
nations into alliances n into pre-
paredness. Preparedness of rival groups
Of nations led TO a condition that can
only be described as explosive. This
explosive condition led to q frame OF
mind that resembled hysteria and panic.
no that when one nation mobilized its
forces another nation not only mobilized
It's troops. and not only began the In
vasion of a neutral country on its way
TO attack a rival. but asked the world
to beheve that that overt act OF az
gresslon was purely defensive. The real
cause Of the wal was preparedness for
peace. preparedness against war. pre-
paredness for defence. whichever phrase
you like best. but always preparedness
for war.
II a referendum were taken in Ger
many and In England to-day. the two
best prepared nations, the former on
the land. the latter on the YEA, there
would be an agreement o. the part OF
the people OF those countries that there
must be 10 repetition of the conditions
which led to this war. They might be
led astray by national feeling TO say
that this repetition can only he pre-
vented by ~subduing the adversary.
This would mean that the subdued
national group must be kept In subJec-
ton by force OF arms. and this would
lead to more and prolonged prepared
ness. which was the cause of this war
and which would inevitably lead to
rartryanra nf (arnaDy has anhtu-
gated Belgium. Poland and Serbia. Eng
land has command OF the sea and has
subJugated most OF Germany's oversee
possessions. To recover either. the war
must he carried TO ever more dreadfr
loss Of life and property. To com
promise or even to propose compromise
IL regarded as weakness II rot folly.
The neutral nations. especially the
leading neutral nation, the United states,
are faced with tho alternative OF pre-
paredness or OF proposing n plan which
will prevent a repetition OF this condi-
ton Of preparedness that led TO the
great war. Tn people Of the United
states seem at present to have chosen
tho alternative of preparedness rather
than TO he willing to consider AS FEAST
BILE q plan for preventing war.
No Government OF any neutral ma
ton seems 10 be willing oficially 10
propose the real remedy for the disease.
one individual. Henry Ford. a maker Of
automobiles. has taken his courage In
both hands and as an individual IL
financing a meeting OF those who de-
sire to see this war and all war n
Mr.. Ford Is covered with ridicule. but
he is the only man who has up to the
present time shown a willin gness 20
sacrifice anything to bring about peace.
He is sad 10 he seeking advertisement.
Why, ne could buy all the advertise
ment at a much smaller expense. He
IL said to have no plan. Who knows
that the conference he IL calling will
not propose a perfectly feasible plan?
That is one OF the objects OF the con-
ference. He Is said TO have q big
head" to be crazy" &c. Whatever dis
ease Mr. Henry Ford has. II should re-
mind US OF the whiskey General Grant
Was said to drink when he Vas winning
yict President Lincoln, when com
plaint was made about Grants drink.
ing whiltey. said that he would like to
send a barrel of It TO his other Generals
who did not win victories.
LEWIS STOCKTON.
BUFFALO. December Is.