The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1915-05-27
PREPARATION FOR WAR.

The unpreparedness of the United
States for war has always been mat
ter of grave concern to a large number
Of thoughtful citizens who in no sense
deserve to be designated as limoges"
The breaking out of the European war
and the remote possibility of this gov
eminent becoming involved in at
once drew attention to our unprepar-
edness, and thousands Of people Wh1
had up to that time paid little atten-
tlon to the subject grasped at once
the weakness of our army and navy
and added their voices to the demand
for adequate national defense. The
strained relations between the Unitel
States and Germany has brought
every citizen to a stern realization of
the fact that the possibility of this
country becoming involved in the wal
is not so remote as was supposed, anu
that we are even now greatly handi.
capped in enforcing our demands OF
account of our limited navy and army
and the total absence of trained re-
serve force upon which to draw. 30
grave has the situation become tina,
the most eminent men of the nation
men whose lives have already beer
devoted to public and patriotic service
are advocating the adoption of some
form of military training and the call
ing of a special session of congress fo'
the purpose of authorizing bond is
sue of $500, 100000 to be used in bulo'
ing a navy, defending the coast and
in increasing the army.
This movement for national defense
has taken such firm hold upon the
people, due to the object lesson across
the sea- that the question will be the
dominating one in the next session o:
congress, assuming that the president
will decline to call a special session.
The question will not down, and II thu
nresant congress sidesteps the que
ton and fails to respond to the popu-
lar demand, then will national de-
tense become the great issue or the
campaign of 1916 and the party that
refuses protection to its own citizens
will be driven from power. The eN-
tent to which the demand for a strong
navy and an army in keeping with the
importance of this nation Is reflected
in the attitude of DR.. Lyman Abbott,
who for many years has been one o,
the most able and conspicuous advn-
Gates of world peace through dsarm-
ament. But the European war, and
particularly the duty that has devolv-
ed upon this government in demand
I ing that German respect the rights OF
American citizens, has given DIR. Alb
bolt a different view and he has thu
honesty and candor to say so. In an
address before the Navy league ir
New York the other day he said:
81 am sorry to say that recent events
have shown myself and a great many
others that the era of the appeal 10
reason is great deal further off than
we thought The first fundamental of
government Is protection Of persons
and property If it does not protect
st has no right to be called govern
ment. / respect the men of the peace
societies but do not respect Their
opinion They are not preaching
peace but anarchy. If there is no
navy to protect neutrality on the higl
seas then every ship must go armed
and that would mean international
piracy. / am not for war, but we dc
want to be prepared to meet war #
1t comes to us. One thing is certain
this nation must have an army anC
navy adequate to fulfill its duty tc
/ itself and the world"