Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1915-06-28
PEACE AT ANY PRICE"
is MAYOR PRESTON'S SLOGAN.
The Hand of Preston But the Voice
of Bryan.
Communicated }

(Communicated).
Editor Capital:
Mr.. Preston, the Mayor of Baltimore
city, declares it would be criminal
to increase our Army to any material
extent" IL he is correctly reported in
the Baltimore papers. In accepting
an invitation to join the American
League to Limit Armament, extended
by its Secretary, L. Hollingsworth
Wood, Mr.. Preston says:
81 think the destiny of America is
distinctly a peaceful and industrial
one-not warlike.
"Our unprecedented growth. under
small standing Army and moderately
sized Navy, has been so great and
satisfactory that it seems TO me il
would be criminal to invite a military
career, and the dangers attending
militarism, by increasing the Army
TO any material extent. A large
standing army, a fostering of the
military spirit and reliance on might,
rather than right; an encouragement
of the sword, rather than a reliance
on the sane methods of diplomacy,
am not in favor Of
while all of the world is at war,
we in American should not insist too
vigorously upon our rights. 1t SEEMS
to me that at this time a small army
is the best guarantee of peace and
prosperity. For the same reasons that
cities and states prohibit the carrying
of firearms and other weapons by indi-
viduals, by parity Of reasoning this
same prohibition may also be wisely
extended to nations"
Is there not a strangely familiar
sound about some of the sentences
quoted, and especially, about the
"peace at any price" sentiments con-
tanned therein? Do we not hear the
voice of the turtle, the cooling of the
White Dove of Peace, as the top-layer
of a substratum of ''cross of gold and
crown of thorns p'l6 to J." anti
Imperialism" Government owner,
ship of railroads" now waited to us
from the big meeting in New York,
condemning the foreign policy of the
President? Verify, he that runs may
read. and deaf man may hear. The
propaganda of Peace at any price,
not peace with honor has spread to
Baltimore and Mr.. Preston has the
credit OF being the first prominent man
to join Mr.. Bryan in his crusade against
Mr.. Wilson and his fight in behalf of
the rights of American citizens and
the honor of the flag. 1t had been
hoped that the efforts of Mr.. Bryan to
checkmate the struggle of the Admin
istration to safeguard the dignity of
the nation, would he confined to Mr..
Bryan himself, and that reputable cit
izens would rather come to the aid of
the heavily y-burdened President in the
hour of need. That no aid and comfort
would be given to his enemies, much
less an open and avowed campaign
against him by such men as Mayor
Preston.
Just at this time when international
risks, like MAD Bulls of Basan,"
us about on every side,
when perils to the north of US, perils
to the south of us, perils to the east of
US. perils to the west of US, loom up;
when the Hawaiian Islands, the Philip
pine supremacy. the control of the
Panama canal. the maintenance of
the Monroe Doctrone and the preserva-
tion of our status as a neutral nation,
demand solid, enthusiastic phalanx
of all good citizens, without regard
to party, race. religion or accident of
birth-in such an hour. men like Mr..
Preston are looked to for examples in
patriotism and devotion to our common
country.
Surely he must be mis1uoted when
he is charged with saying it would be
for us to increase our cNmpar-
atively microscopic army to "any
material extent" Does he mean that,
literally? Does he realize how it will
sound to outsiders? How it will be
viewed and commented on by the
other great powers? And how much
capital may be made of il by unfriend-
ly critics? But worst of all, does he
actually mean what he says in this SEN
tence:
While all of the world is at war,
we in America should not insist too
upon our rights:
What is the insinuation contained
therein? Why knowing our rights,
the rights of our citizens under the
law, the rights to protection in their
life, liberty and property no matter by
whom assailed while knowing this.
we should cravenly cringe. and mot
insist too vigorously upon our
rights" Not insist on our rights.
Then indeed, are we fallen on Woe
full times. Is this the spirit which
caused the burning of the Peggy
Stewart? the endurance of the mis-
terry of Valley Forge? which fired
the shot heard round the world?
SCOTT LANE HEFFENGER.