Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-01-24

sooner than people believed. In fact, I
would not he surprised TO sec Il come
automatically with the ending OF the
present war. II holds out a solacc. n sub
lime promise of happiness and lasting
peace and finally The Brotherhood Of
Man" that every sane person desires.
Cannot believe War VIII Last Three
Years More.
IL only remains for this war 70 end for
the work of this triumph 60 he begun.
II is predicted that the war will last for
at least three years. but cannot believe
e. am persuaded II Is too appalling.
But como soon. or come late. let us In
dulge in the bright hope that II will mark
the end OF such crimes.
Special attention should be given 20 the
gentlemen who. OF late, have been try
ing TO scare us with absurd stories OF un-
preparedness, possible invasion and the
| like. l liken them to the man who was
afraid to leave his home without having
! lightning rod down his back because
he heard that man was once hit by
bolt while walking In the street There
Is no greater chance of our republic being
successfully invaded than there Is OF the
gentleman strolling without lightning
rod being stricken.
As ! stated in an article I wrote re-
Gently FOR the Independent, IL is prepara-
ton for war that brings on war Two
nations are continually preparing for
"the war that may come" They build
and build and build. until their armies
and navies grow to an enormous size.
They become so imbued with military or
naval spirit that they bristle up like two
| - IA -
a question of time before they are tear
ing at each others threats. The present
war is an exact illustration Of this. MIL
ton has II. What can war but endless
wars still breedP" 1t Is certain that
preparation begets preparation"
Not one OF the great nations has the
slightest desire to he other than friendly
with the United States. We are a friend
to all; an enemy of none. They could
gain nothing by a war with us, nor
would we by a war with them. We have
no territorial ambitious, and only desire
to be left alone.
As for this foolish talk of an invasion,
that is an impossible contingency. I'M
agine any country being able to success
fully bring enough troops TO accomplish
anything worth while from a military
standpoint from a point 5000 miles off
and attack hundred millions OF people2
How Invading Army Could he
Forced to Surrender.
have always said that II at any time
any country was foolish enough to at
; tempt invasion the best possible plan
would be to make their landing as easy
as possible, point out to them the best
possible roads. and allow them to go as
far as they desired to go inland. Then
; warn them to look out. and turn a million
Of our 100000 Of militia loose upon them.
Getting in would be easy. but how to get
out would result in surrender.
There is no other country in the world
so we'll equipped to repel invasion or
make it so hot for an enemy should he
land as to make him exceedingly sorry
he ever tried It,
Our men are brought up to know how
! TO handle a gun. Not so much in the bis
cities, of course. but then 1t is the mer
q In the country who would count the mos
: in war. Some time Of the year every
farmer, his sons and his workmen &c
hunting They all know how to handl,
firearms; this is our absolute safeguard
"MOnrOe Doctrine Obsolete, Day OF
Usefulness Past"
Look at the difference in Europe. The
farmers and farm workmen are 80 pool
|" that few of them can afford a gun and
:. license. Therefore comes the need o
= great standing armies involving huge ex
penditure that drains and saps the coun
:, trys vital resources.
possible cause for this country goinl
to war has been suggested In a violation
of the Monroe doctrine.
The Monroe doctrine is obsolete. II
day of usefulness and the necessity 70