The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-07-23
The "Rough Rider" at Fighting Pitch.


Col Roosevelt spoke many plain truths in his
address on "War and Peace at San Francisco, and
his words will not fail to make many converts to
the policy of preparedness for national defense.
With convincing illustration, too, he exposed the
futility of Mr.. Bryan's peace treaties, which are
mark the Coloners arguments
When the Rough Riders fighting blood is up
he is not expected to be logical, and he was not
when he permitted himself to stab with innuendo
President Wilson's course in the German crisis.
Referring to his own rapid-hre acquisition of the
Panama Canal Zone he said: eff, instead of act
ing as this nation did in the fall of Ioo3 we had
confined ourselves to debates in Congress and
diplomatic notes; if, in other words, we had
treated elocution a substitute for action, we
would have done nobody any good, and for
ourselves we would have earned the hearty de-
rision of all other nations" This was clearly
reiterated denunciation of President Wilson's
course that has up to the present time avoided an
open break with Germany; but further along in
his address the Colonel admitted: Preparedness
is not the affair of day. If we begin at once, a
year two must elapse before shall have &C
complished even beginning. Certainly, therefore,
but very little could be done in a few months to
prepare the nation to back its demands, but it is
reasonable to that the government has not
been idle since the Lusitania horror and that
whatever was possible has been or is being ac-
complished. 1t would seem that it should not
be difficult for the ma jority of the people to
choose between the Roosevelt way, that would
have invited war with Germany within forty
eight hours after the Lusitania sunk, and the
patient method of President Wilson that has, with
yielding single of our rights nation,
given Germany every opportunity to remain at
peace with us by making what amends are pos
sble for the crime she has committed and giving
us assurance against a repetition Time has not
softened the peoples righteous wrath nor weaken
ed the Presidents determination to exact the full
est reparation; but if must come, shall, if
those intrusted with government have done their
duty be in some slight measure better prepared to
prosecute it than were two days after the
world-staggering infamy that caused it was perpe
trated.
Stripping the Bryan peace treaties of their gar
lands of olive Col. Roosevelt declared: This was
and explicit promise in each that if American
women raped and American murdered
has actually occurred in Mexico; or American
men, and children drowned the high
seas. in the case of the Gufight and Lustania;
or if foreign power secured and fortified Magda-
lena Bay the Island of St. Thomas we would
appoint commission and listen to a years
versation the subject before taking action"
This flaming illustration of the effect of his
treaties will not shock Mr.. Bryans sensibilities,
and doubtless he would readily admit that the
Colonel had accurately analysed both the treaties
and Mr.. Bryan's intentions in negotiating them.
But to most Americans, it is safe to say the stua
ton presented will appear abhorent; and their
dict will consign the treaties to the fate of other
forgotten scraps of paper"
There was the true American ring to all Col.
Roosevelt had to say in advocacy of preparedness.
The efforts of the "peace-at-any-price people to
"Chinafy' the United States, our helplessness in
Mexico and the possibility of foreign powers un-
dertaking the work of pacihcation there, and our
present inability to uphold the Monroe doctrine
are all realities confronting the nation and de-
manding earnest thought and action. As usual
Col. Roosevelt has remedy to offer for the evils
he points out. Our regular army, he believes
should be greatly increased in size and rendered
much efficient by yearly maneuvers in mass
we'll practice in other directions" He also
firmly believes that there should be universal
military service for our young men on the Swiss
model. In Switzerland the boys are trained for
their last few years in the public schools and
after they graduate from the public schools they
with the army for four or six months and
then for eight ten days every year for the
next ten years." There are many besides the
peace at-anyp price disciples opposed to universal
military service for the young men of the coun-
try, but war with world at stake warns us
to find way to prepare for war and to be ready
to pay the price of liberty