The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1915-06-28
PEACE AND PREPAREDNESS

The esteemed OcaIa Star asks the
Times Union eff Great Britain and
France had been as well prepared for
war as Germany would there have
been any war;" Each of them believ-
ed they were sufficiently prepared to
meet the danger they both had seen
for years. King Edward was consid-
cred wise IN his day and he firmly be-
lieved that the understanding he pro-
noted by his triple entente was suf-
ficient to discourage aggressiveness|
on the part of Germany. 1t is impos-
sible to secure exact equality of pre-
paredness if this be understood as
equality of force-one of the parties
viii be prompt to seize the opportun-
Iity that may be only favorable in
seeming. Italy's book shows that
Germany and Austria had planned the
outbreak for two years-Germany
charges that she was compelled to
strike first to save herself.
But if the question implies that uni
versal preparedness or general pre-
paredness averts. war we have no hes
itation in Offering denial that will
be supported by all history. From
1900 A. D. to 100 A. D. all nations
were prepared to fight-in Europe
each little lord was prepared day and
night during the greater portion of
that period-the result was continual
war and the proclamation of peace
meant nothing but a short truce. Rus
she made war; France knew Germany
was prepared in 1870 and Germany
knew France was ready, but France
offered irritations and Bismarck
changed the language of a telegram.
All savages are always prepared and
all savages consider fighting the only
business fit for men.
What would be the consequence if
i every nation of Christendom devoted
its energies to preparedness as Ger
many has done, as the others have
tried to do and as some wish to dc?
4 Wars would be continual because
preparation would cost too heavily
and treasures might hope for replen-
ishment from war. From such condi-
tons there could come relief only
from the preponderating influence of
one state-there would come another
empire like that of Rome-shall we
invite another Pax Romano or is it
well to preserve the status evolved
from the ruins of another time? We
have tried the preponderance of Spain
Britain claimed credit for such
peace as we have enjoyed for a cen
tury-now Germany insists on su-
premacy. This dream of empire is
the old political superstition that has
devastated the earth since history be-
gan-zshall we conclude that man is
incapable of giving us better ideal?
Always we have seen preparedness
such as the means or the temper. of a
people allowed and always we have
seen war or the threat of war. By
our constitution we showed how SOW
ereign states might dwell in peace as
Eneighbors-along a boundary of three
thousand miles unguarded we live in
peace with Canada while the nations
prepared must fortify and maintain
armies that burden industry and serve
as the defenders of government cor
ruption. Why argue with those who
cannot profit by the example of
others ?-Times Union.
The Times Union overwhelms us by
its logic, but the trouble about logic
], is that tho it looks like arithmetic, it
seldom adds up so well.
: The Star didn't ask the T.-U. what
would have happened if Britain and
France thought they were as well pre-
pared for war as Germany. In view of
events, that would have been an I'M
necessary question.
1t IS reasonable to assume that
: Germany was not only much better
? prepared than other nations, but knew
) it. It is also reasonable to assume
Z that if the other nations had been as
; well prepared as Germany, that Ger
} many would have known that, also;
: and it is obvious that Germany would
: not have attacked unless the Ger
+ mans had been reasonably sure of sue
: cess.
!. The Star doesn't think that the
: period between 1900 and 100 fur
5 nishes fair basis to argue from or
S the conditions of today. The sciences
4 of both war and government have
: changed considerably since that time
We don't suppose that the Times.
e Union loves peace any more than the
] Star does. The Times Union. however
0 seems to think that because we CAM
: do certain things without danger OF
e getting into trouble, or because we
e cant do certain things in certain
z way without causing trouble that We