The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-11-17
in MIDDLE OF ROAD
Cardinal Gibbons Opposed to
Extreme Defense Measures.
Huge Army and Navy Unnec-
essary, Prelate Says.

Philadelphia, Nov. 17-Cardinal
Gibbons cautions this country to keep
in the middle of the road in the mat
ter OF preparedness; not to run to the
extremists in the peace at any price,
or among those who want great
armies and navieS for future arma-
ment in the United States.
cardinal Gibbons, Cardinal Farley
and Archbishop Bonzagno. the papaI
apostolic delegate to this country,
were guests of Archbishop Prender-
CAST at the archiepiscopa1 residence
Tuesday night.
Cardinal Gibbons was driven
to the residence of Archbishop Prem
dergast upon his arrival and after
dinner talked with newspaper men.
In this matter of Preparedness -
the cardinal said, I'VE should adopt a
safe and sane position. L am favor
able to middle of the road caution.
We do not want to run riotously to
the preparedness program nor do we
want to stick to the peace at any
lot of hysteria about the dangers that
confront this nation from foreign
foes.
No Cause for Alarm
I'VE needn't have the slightest APP
prehension. We shall not become
embroiled in war unless we adopt a
policy of aggression and that is dis
t1nctly opposed to our principles. We
nave Jared very well in 120 years
with a small army and navy | am
opposed to creating great standing
armies and charging our navy out of
all proportion to our actual needs.
The way to secure proper pre-
paredness is through the state militia
This will give you a body of trained
soldiery, ready to spring to the ma
tional defense at the first alarm and
1t will not take great masses of young
men for an indefinite time from
PrRi9l ny - RI
other walks of peace.
ITO secure that skill in our militia
1t 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 govern
ing control of the militia and let them
set aside certain times when a real
sOldiery. OF course over all this mill
tia training the national officials
should exercise a proper control and
supervision.
The Sane Method.
at is the sane method that we must
use. We want to be in a position to
defend ourselves but we must not be
carried away by this hysteria and APP
Prehension that is on every side. Nor
do we want to be lulled into anv false
security either. We want to go ahead
and meet conditions as they arise, but
In no circumstances do We want great
standing armies L am opposed to this
plan as a species of national appre-
hension and hysteria that is far from
warranted by existing conditions.
Nor can 1 emphasize too strongly
the fact that 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 Christ's teach
ings-
Il can not tell how this war will
affect the religious activities of the
future; I can only hope. But if the
nations at war will follow closely the
Sermon on the Mount and precepts of
Christ religion will have suffered no
lasting harm from the present strug-
gle.''