South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-11-17
MIDDLE COURSE IS
BEST FOR COUNTRY
Cardinal Gibbons Warns United
States to Stick to Gen.
ter of Road.

PHILADELPHIA. Pa. Nov. IL
Cardinal Gibbons cautions this coun-
try to keep In the middle OF the road
in the matter OF preparedness; not TO
run TO the extremists in the peace at
any price propaganda, or among
those who want great armies and
navies for future armament in the
United States.
Cardinal Gibbons. Cardinal Farley
and chbishop Bonzagno. the papal
apostolic delegate TO this country
were guests Of Arch bishop Prender-
CAST at the Archepiscopal residence
Tuesday night These dignitaries,
with hundreds Of bishops, mOnsignors
and priests have arrived TO take part
in the golden jubilee of the metro
pOlitan OF Philadelphia Wednesday.
Cardinal Gibbons arrived Tuesday
night and was driven 70 the residence
OF Archbishop Prendergast and after
dinner talked with the newspaperme
Advocates Sane Position.
I'm this matter Of preparedness,
the cardinal said, we should adopt
safe, sensible and sane position. l am
favorable to middle Of the road eau
ton. We don't want TO run riOtOusly
TO the preparedness program nor do
we want TO stick 10 the peace at any
price propaganda There has been
lot Of hysteria about the dangers that
confront our nation from foreign foes.
we need not have the slightest
apprehension. We shall not become
embrOiled in war unless we adopt q
policy CT aggression and that is dis
tinctly opposed TO our principles. We
have Jared very we'll in 100 years with
a small army and navy. / am OPP
posed 10 creating great standing arm
les and charging our navy out of all
proportion to our actual needs.
The way to secure proper prepar-
edness is through the state militia
This VIII give you a body OF trained
soldiers ready TO spring TO the pa-
tional defence at the first alarm, and
Yet will not take great masses of
young men for an indefinite time from
commercial pursuits, professions and
other walks Of peace.
Cooperation Needed.
ITO secure that skill in our militia
il Is only necessary for the federal
and state governments to cooperate.
Let the governor and the Legislature
reach the proper angle in this matter;
let them have certain fixed rules gov
erning control of the militia and let
them set aside certain times when a
real training can be given TO our citi-
zen sOldiery. OF course, over all this
military training the national officials
should exercise a proper control and
supervision.
I'VE are especially well protected
through Divine Providence and nat
ural barriers.
"On the east we have the Atlantic
ocean and on the west the Pacific
ocean. on the north we have our
calm, pacific neighbors of the domin-
ion OF Canada, and Mexico on the
south, despite its present turbulent
condition, will never attack this coun-
Try. What greater protection can we
wish than that? Unless we seek az
gression no European nation. worn
out now in this terrible struggle, will
seek battle with us and we have moth
ing to fear on the other side of the
racific ocean.
Must Not Be Carried Away
1T is the sane method that we
must use We want TO be in a posi-
ton to defend ourselves, but we must
not be carried away by this hysteria
and apprehension that is on every
side. Nor do we want to be lulled
into any false security either. We
want to 90 ahead and meet condi-
tions as they arise, but in no circum-
stances do we want great standing
armies. / am opposed to this plan,
as a species Of national apprehension
and hysteria that is far from war
ranted by the existing conditions.
Nor can 1 emphasize too strongly
the fact that the war in Europe is not
a failure for Christianity If the ma.
lions followed the precepts of Christ
and the maxims of Christianity and
the teachings Of our blessed Lord we
would have had no war today 1t is
not Christianity that is at fault-it is
the lack OF following Christs teach
ings.
IT cannot tell how this war will
affect the religious activities of the
future; / can only hope. But if the
nations at war follow closely the ser
mon on the Mount and the precepts
OF Christ, religion will have suffered
no lasting harm from the present
struggle"