New Britain herald., 1915-12-10

when we should not. This position 1 ignores the responsibilities which we l have undertaken and which we must | maintain at any self sacrifice. It ig- norcs the fact that if nations which possess force are likely to use it when they should not, some nation which has such force is likely to use it against us when it should not. It assumes that our nation may not be trusted witEf force for fear it may use it..
 Eyes Blinded to Fact.
 The eyes of many are blinded to fact and their minds closed to reason by an abhorrence of what they term 'militarism, without any actual con- ception of just what this means or how it should affect the proper con- sideration of the subject. Those who really fear militarism, or more accu- "ately stated, those who dread real militarism, should be the strongest. The latter is, the preventive of mill itarism. If they unwisely defeat req sonable preparedness, they leave the country in a condition where the in ovitabe result of defeat. humiliation CT acute apprehension will be nasty and ill-advised provisions as to arna- n1ent far beyond anything which calm reason and wise provision would deem necessary.
 "There will be those who assert that the proposed policy opposes the tradl- Ons of the people and runs counter thereto. This is mere assertion; it is not tho fact, and in thruth the fact is to the contrary. The proposed policy is exactly in keeping with our tradi- tiOnS.
 'Therc will also be those who will express regret that the policy hereto fore pursued, of lack of proper mili- tary precautions, is to be departed from because it has been invaluable as an example to the rest of the world and we should not remedy the lack because we would then cease to be such an example. It should be ob- served first, in considering this point Of view, that it entirely overlooks the vital and imperative duty to ourselves which requires that we should protect and defend that which we cherish and hold dear. Furthermo it overlooks the fact that although we have been just the example that they desire throughout the more than a century and a quarter of our existence, the results existing in the world today do not warrant the belief that our ex- ample had any beneficial effect.
 Decry Any Preparation.
 There arc some who decry taking any precautions or making any prepa- rations of the military power of the nation because they say it will not prevent war but will provoke it. Men and nations must prepare to meet rPSnOn Ci ics ir,o l/le to develop strength sufficient to repel wrong because such developed strength may be misusad, human na- ture has indeed reached an impasse. Why should it be presumed that a just man or a just nation will cease to be just because it has the power to be unjust? We must either trust others or trust ourselves
 Another stumbling block to some is the suggestion that no preparation should be made and no precaution should be taken because no one can foretell how much we may have to meet and what we will require to meet it. Here again the idea em- bodied in this suggestion would stay all human progress. There will be some who assert that the devastating effects and the horror produced by the war now DGlnS WdSGQ HldkC IL certain that war will be avoided for long period of time after the close of the present war. They will argue that the exhaustion of resources and the recollection of the awful suffering will have the effect of deterring na- tions from entering upon war. What basis is there or such belief? Certain ly such basis cannot be found in his tory-our own or that of other na- lions.
 Voice Usually Controls.
 'There will be those who believe and assert that the time when war can be avoided by negotiation or ar filtration or other like means will be adanced if we refrain from adopting a proper military policy but will be set back it we do so. It is difficult to comprehend on what basis such a relief can reasonably rest, and there fore it is difficult to reason about it. It seems to rest upon the idea that if We are feeble and weak in action, we will be strong and persuasive in coun- sel; that by avowedly neglecting to prepare to protect our rights we will be the better able to secure their pro- lection by appeal, by arbitration, or, by argument. No one need have the slightest fear that our voice for peace full settlement of the Quarrels of na- tions will receive any the less atten- fIn c-tn md fn1 hn O I1f