The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1915-01-07
MORE ARMAMENT
OK DISARMAMENT
An Outline ~ a Recent TAN Given By
rharies Thaddeus Terry In New
York Ciiy

York tWY
I suppose Tho moa appalling huniil
iAtson which can bcfau IN individual
or . nation is that which comes viii
the consciousness 81 inability - meeI
a pressing situation; tie conviction 81
hclplcssneas when there i clear pos
mhility Of rendering help 10 . dir
cult emergency There u no sharpe
agony which can be conceived thar
that which comes from the realization
that a brilliant chance is slipping
away from Us. because We have not
the strength % grasp and hold IL
Purgatory haS been defined 70 be the
feeling Of incompetence In the face OF
opportunity.
Never Was such an opportunity Of.
fcred TO nation as is this day offered
to the United States If we can avail
ourselves Of il, Il we can grasp anc
hold il, the good Of the human race
and the glory Of this country will have
been intellectually advanced. II, on the
other hand, We allow the opportunity
10 pass, II il slips out Of our nerveless
and poworless hands, we may not only
never get such another, but we will
almost inevitably have lost much OF
our influence and standing; and We
shall be obliged 10 contemplate in re-
Prospect with a sickeuing sense OF
disappointment, the loss which We
have permitted not alone in our OWL
progress, but in the progress Of oui
race.
The question is our preparedness,
not for war, but for peace.
In real sense, the eyes Of the whole
world are upon us. Every nation, not
only those actively engaged in war
but all the others as well, is asking
our opinion on the various issues in
yolyed in the catastrophe. 1t is not
too much TO say, that, if the judgment
OF the United States could be focused
and concentrated and backed by clear
reasons, the controversy would be de-
terInined, and the terms of peace
formulated. II is next to certain that
our dictum will go far toward estab-
fishing the principle upon which the
ultimate settlement will be made.
Such is the position which we
occupy.
And why
lis il not because we are supposed TO
b. actuated by high motives; to be
guided by clear thinking; and to be
governed by sound doctrines?
In word, does not the whole world
look to us for an example and rule
Of conduct? They are waiting with
breathless, vital interest to see wheth-
er our practices shall square with our
preaching whether our actions shall
accord with our theories; whether
when we have said in the past and are
saying now, that international courts
should settle all disputes between ma
tions, that was is an illogical, un-
scientific, wasteful and in the highest
degree a sinful method of settling
such disputes, we meant what we
said, or were just indulging in high
sounding phrases; whether our pro
nounccments were pure euphemlsms
or true expressions of character;
whether when we said that nations
should disarm, we were genuine, or
that we referred only to nations other
than ourselves.
All, If we could but have the courage
of our convictions at just this critical
time. If we only dared to act as we
believe. If, instead Of increasing our
armament at this moment, we dared
reduce it.
What an example to the world it
would be Never will there be another
opportunity like it. 1t is now or new
er. What an impress it would make
on civilization! What a leap, in prog
ress, II would be. What startling
proof il would be of our genuineness
How all peoples would applaud, and
better still, make ready to follow the
example-after they had recovered
from their first moment Of surprise
OH II we only had the courage to
dot it, That is all it takes, courage.
II the action would involve a hazard,
what Of it? Would the end TO be ac-
eomplished not be well worth the
risk +? II once that action were taken,
the human family never could revert
again to the Slough of military des-
pond in which il now finds itself.
The question squarely confronts US
MS a nation; we cannot dodge it.
Shall we compromise, or shall we
stand boldly and unafraid for our prin-
ciples? Shall we sayf-"Not very
much more armament, but just a little
more" or shall we say, mot one bit
more of armament, at least not now
Of all times, and nay, even we will
reduce il, so that all men everywhere
will know what we stand for? Once
for all we shall strike loose the shack
les Of military bondage which we have
borne for years. Millions in taxes we
will pay to defend and restore TO hap
py lives, the poor, the downtrodden,
the criminal, and the oppressed, but
not one cent of tribute to militarism,
or anything that in the least savors Of
il"
II is our birth right TO be Gods
- xkFnffA