Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-07-22
Speaker Roosevelt Day at the PanamaPacic
Arbitration Treaties Have
Mobile Army of Over 10000 Men Pacicaon Of Mexico


people 70 take the same view as re-
CARDS military preparedness. Some
years ago I vas looking over some
very old newspapers contemporaneous
with the early establishment Of paid
Fire Departments in this country and
to my amusementS. I came across
letter which argued against paid
Fire Department upon the ground
that the knowledge Of its existence
would TEND to make householders
careless and therefore would encour
age fires.
Greece was not prepared for war
when she went to war with Turkey a
score OF years ago. But this fac
did not stop the war. 1t merely made
the war unsuccessful for Greece.
China was not prepared for war with
Japan twenty odd years ago, nor for
var with the Allies who marched TO
Pekin fifteen years ago.
But the ciearest teaching is con-
veyed in the experience Of China and
Of Belgium during the last year. AS
regards Belgium the comparison
should De made between 1t and
Switzerland. The territory of SwitZ-
erIand like the territory of Belgium
lay between the great combatants.
One offered as advantageous "a path
Of entry to those combatants as the
other 4 century ago. for instance
when Switzerland was utterly unpre
pared for war, the Aapoeonic armies
used it as a highway in marching
against the Austrians and South Ger
mans. Absolutely the same fate
would have been theirs now save for
the vital fact that III the century in
tervening the Swiss people. having
learned the lesson. had prepared III
advance and were thoroughly com
petent TO defend themselves. They
had a irst-ciass citizens army OF
about one-tenrh the size of their
whole population. This army was
instantly mobilized and thrown on the
frontiers and in consequence Switzer-
lands territorial integrity WAS re-
spected.
But Belgium. alas. had not learned
the lesson which Switzerland had
learned. For eighty years Belgium
had been at peace and had achieved
an extraordinary measure Of indus
trial prosperity. Her people had Gone
Fundamentally what ours have done.
Eor many wears they declined TO pre-
pare 70 defend themselves at all. Il
was confidently asserted that the Gays
OF great vars had passed. and thai
anyhow Belgium was absolutely mot
fensive so that nobody would invade
her and that if her territory was
threatened With invasion the opinion
Of the civilized world would be suf-
ricient to prevent the carrying out OF
the threat. and besides il was point
Ell out there ware treaties absolutely
guaranteeing Belgium against inva-
sion: and furt Ilerrnore it was ex-
planned that The Hague conventions
which we ourselves signed but
which va Immediately treated as
SCRAPS Of paper when the demand
was made TO show that our sigma
lures meant something-nade the
whole world guarantors Of Belgium
territorial integrity
CAUTIOUSLY enough it was the lis.
tirctlv worningmen's party which
finally became the most considera bic
should be made in preparing tor de-
Tense. The beginning was made.
But it was only A beginning and wal
overwhelmed poor Belgium before shs
had more than barely entered an the
path that Switzerland had so wisely
trod.
China offers an even more perfect
parallel TO the condition TO which in
practice the doctrines OF the ultra
paci1icisrs would lead us Fifty years
ago Japan ana China occupied SUBJ
stantially the same positions as re-
e,ards the world AT large Japan now
stands abreast OF the leading civilized
nations OF the world. her progress
having been on the whole more re-
narliabe than thar Of any other ma
ton known to history This is not
merely due to her development OF
fighting efficiency, for the history Of
Turkey has shown that mere fighting
efficiency by itself will not save a ma
ton from ruin. But II is no less true
that without lighting efficiency. ali
other national efficiency amounts to
is a house built on the sand. Japan's
SIbS1 cSS "ouiu nay DSSil doSoiutNiS
impossible if it had not induced
progress in fighting efficiency exact
Iy as in industrial and social eff
ffciency.
China on the other hand. had for
generations been trained to regard
peace as the most desirable Of all aims
and to look down upon war and SOL
diers. She has acted on the theory
that the worst peace was better than
the best war. and therefore she has
suffered all the evils of the worst war
and the worst peace. The average
Chinaman took the view that China
was too proud to fight and in practice
made evident his hearty approval of
the sentiments Of that abject pacifist
song I Didn't Raise Ny Boy TO be
Soldier song which should have as
a companion piece one entitled I
Didn't Raise Ny Girl to be a Mother.
approval Of which Of course deprives
any men or women of all right of kin
ship with the soldiers and with the
mothers and wives OF the soldiers.
whose valor and services we COM
memorate on the Fourth of July and
on Decoration Day; song, the sing
ing Of which seems Incredible TO every
man and woman capable OF being
stirred to lofty and generous en-