The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1915-11-06
WILSON AND BRYAN

1t is only necessary to compare the
speeches of President Wilson and Mr..
VIM. J. Bryan on international de-
tense to decide which is the sanest
leader and which the safest to follow
in this time of national danger.
In his speech before the Manhat-
tan Club in New York Thursday
night, Mr.. Wilson declared solemnly:
"Within year." said the president,
1--WE have witnessed what we did not
think possible, great European con-
fict involving many of the greatest
nations of the world. The influence
of the great war is everywhere in the
air. All Europe is in battle. Force
everywhere speaks out and from one
end of our dear country to the other,
men are asking one another what our
own force is, how far we are prepar-
ed to maintain ourselves against any
interference with our national action
or development"
The president called upon linen of
all shades of political opinion" to raj
ly to the support of the program. He
said it represented "the best profess
sional and expert opinion of the coun-
try" and gave warning that eff men
differ with me in this vital matter, il
shall ask them to make it clear how
far and in what way they are inter-
ested in making the permanent inter-
ests of the country safe against dis
turbance."
There is no need for the country to
feel panic stricken, the president de-
clared, because it stands in friendly
relations with the world. He spoke of
the United States as "nation too big
and generous to be exacting, but yet
courageous enough to defend its
rights"
Outlining the defense program, the
president said it included an increase
in the standing army, the training
within the next three years of 100000
citizen soldiers to be raised in annual
forces of $4,000, and the strengthen
ing of the National Guard He laid
particular emphasis on the need of
ample equipment.
The president declared that the
navy already is livery great and eff
ficient, bat that in order to bring it to-
a point of extraordinary force and eff
ficiency, definite policy must be
adopted"
In addition to speaking on national
defense, the president attacked "men
who love other countries better than
America" and men who stir up re-
lgious and sectarian antagonism. He
declared that such men should be
"called to a reckoning"
Mr.. Bryan opposes the presidents
national defense plans, which he
declares departure from our ira
ditions and a reversal of national
policy and menace to our peace and
safety. He says it is challenge to
the spirit of Christianity which
teaches us to influence others by ex-
ample rather than fear. The former
secretary's remarks are regarded as
the opening gun of the fight expected
in Congress against the plan.
Mr.. Bryan declared that none of
the European nations now fighting
were prepared for war, but were pre-
pared merely for defense. He declar-
ed that untold harm would be done
neighboring nations as well as our
own, and doesn't believe the taxpay-
ers want the present sum appropriat-
ed for the army a I'D navy increased.
Nobody can accuse President Will
son of being rash or militaristic. His
entire policy has been in the oppo-
site direction; he has been prudent
and peaceful to the point where his
critics accuse him of being cowardly.
The only fault the Star sees with his
defense plan is that it doesn't go far
enough, and it believes he would have
gone further and asked for more men
if he had not been certain that the
pacifists and fatheads in Congress
would, in that event, defeat the entire
plan. The United States should have
a standing army of not less than
100000 men, and it should have it not
three years from now, but before the
middle of next year.
On the other hand, Mr.. Bryan talks
like man in his dotage. The nations
in Europe which armed for defense
are fighting for life against the ma
tions that armed and prepared for
aggression. Every plan and theory
that Mr.. Bryan has advocated for
world peace has been disproved by
the events of the past fifteen months.
The only people who can agree with
Mr.. Bryan are those WIKI ARE tso