New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-18
BRYAN GLAD U. 5.
ARMY AND NAVY
ARE NOT READY
Says Preparedness Might
Have Involved Nation
i'm the War.
"MIGHT IS RIGHT"
IDEA TO BLAME
No Excuse for Arms Rivalry,
Ex-Secretary Asserts in His
Second Statement.

Washington, June 17.-Asserting that
preparedness provokes rather than pre-
vents war and that the upheayal IN
Europe was a result Of the false philoso-
ply that might makes right" ex-Sec-
rotary Bryan, in the second Of his Sc
ries Of three statements on The
Causeless War" submits to-day an ar
gument against NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. by
the United States and praises the
course of President Wilson in the IN
ternational emergency.
"If any nation is without excuse for
entering into a mad rivalry with the
belligerent nations in preparation for
war it is the United States" said Mr..
Bryan. eve are protected on either
side by thousands Of miles Of ocean,
and this protection is worth more to
us than any number of battleships.
1--WE have an additional protection IN
the fact, known TO every one, that we
have the men with whom to form an
army of defence if ever we are at
tackled, and it is known also that we
would have the money, too-more
money than we would have had If all
the surplus earnings of the people had
been invested in armament. We not
only do not need additional prepare
ton, but we are fortunate in not having
il, since IL seems impossible for ma
ton to have what is called prepared
ness without having along with It
disposition to use its preparedness on
the slightest provocatlon.
Praises President Wilson.
"The leading participants in the pres
ent war are the nations that we're best
prepared, and fear it would have been
difficult for US TO keep out Of this war
if we had been as we'll prepared as
they.
Happy for our nation that we have
in the White House at this time
President who believes in setting the
Old World good example, instead Of
following the bad example which it sets
in this matter. What an unspeakable
misfortune it would have been If, IN
such an hour as this, the nation had
been under the leadership Of a Presi-
dent inhamed by the false philosophy
which had plunged Europe into the
abyss Of war;"
In preliminary discussion Of the
cause of the European conflict Mr..
Bryan, in a long analysis Of the sltua-
ton, argues that it is no war Of race,
religion or families and declares:
"lf | have correctly analysed the
situation the war is the natural result
of a false philosophy. The
fundamental precept Of this false phi
losophy is that might makes right
Leading up to his argument against
preparation for war by the United
States Mr.. Bryan says:
Preparedness Generates Hate.
I'VE dare not trust the peace of the
world to those who spend their time
in getting ready for wars that should
never come. Half the energy employed
in preparing for war would etfectually
preven. war if used in propagating the
principles which make for peace. In
stead Of preventing war preparedness
proyokes war, because it is impossible
to coerce the people into bearing the
burdens incident 70 continuous and in
creasiug preparation without cultlvat-
ing hatred as if it were a natural virtue.
There must be some one to fear; some
other preparing nation that must be
represented as plotting for war.
How can preparedness prevent war
if all prepare? Each step taken by one
nation toward more complete prepared
ness excites the other nations to add-
tonal purchases, and new levies, until
all have exhausted their productive in
dustries and menaced their moral prog
ress.
"The doctrine that preparedness will
prevent war will not stand the test of
logic. and the conhagration in Europe
shows that it fails when tested by eX-
perience."