The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-11-06

shall without opposition.
Once Strong Supporter
Is Wilson'e Foe
CONTINUED from Page one.)
defense That is the ground upon
which all preparation for war is made
What nation has ever prepared for
war on the theory that it was prepar-
ing for aggression? 1t is only fair to
assume that the European rulers who
are involved in the present war
thought that they were contributing
towards the maintenance, of peace
when they We're making elaborate
preparations for defense. 1t is false
philosophy and, being false, it inevi-
tably leads into difficulties. The
spirit that makes the individual carry
a revolver-and whoever carries q re-
volver except for defense leads him
not only to to use it on slight provo
cation but to use language which
provokes trouble. Speak softly but
carry big stick is one of the de-
lusive maxims employed by those
who put their faith in force. There
are two answers to it-6rst, the man
who speaks softly has not the dis
position to carry a club, and if a
man with a soft voice is persuaded
to carry a club, his voice changes as
soon as he begins to rely upon the
club.
eff there is any truth in our re-
ligion, nation must win respect as
an individual does, not by carrying
arms, but by an upright, honorable
course that invites confidence and i'm
sures good will. This nation has won
its position in the world without re-
sorting to the habit of toting pistol
or carrying club. Why reverse our
policy at this time? The president
himself admits that there is no reason
for change. He says:
The country is not threatened
from any quarter; she stands in
friendly relation with all the world.
lHer resources and her self respect
and capacity to care for her own
citizens and rights are we'll known
And to make the statement more en-
phatic, he adds, there is no fear
among u.s.
RIDICULES STATEMENTS.
eff we're not threatened by any
nation, if our relations with all ma
lions are friendly, if everybody knows
that we're able to defend ourselves if
necessary, and if there is no fear
among us, why is this time chosen to
revolutionize our national theories
and to exchange our policy for the
policy of Europe? Why abandon the
hope that we have so long entertained
of setting an example to Europe ?
Why encourage the nations of Europe
in their fatal folly by initiating them ?
Why impose upon the Western Henlis-
phere a policy so disastrous? May
we not expect all Latin-America to
be stimulated to preparation If we
enter upon new era of preparation
And will not such policy make con-
fiicts between these republics more
probably?
eve shall do infinite harm to the
neighboring nations as we'll as to
ourselves if we are drawn into this
policy which provokes war by pre-
paration which is impossible without
a large increase in taxation and the
! arousing of military system which
sets up false standards of honor. We
are now spending more than $3.50 ,000,-
| 900 year on preparedness-ten times
as much as we are spending on agri-
culture-and | feel sure that the tax
payers are not in favor of increas-
ing this sum at this time when a
change is not only unnecessary but a
menace to our national ideals.
"There has not been a time in fifty
years when there was less reason to
add to the expenses of the army and
navy for we are not only without an
enemy, but our preparedness is in
creasing relatively as other nations
exhaust themselves. And there never
was time and there never has been
a time in our whole history when
our dity TO the world more impera-
lively demanded self restraint and the
counsels of peace.
81 hope the president will not be
deceived by the atmosphere of the
Manhattan club. That is the one
place in the United States where the
lmammon-worshiping portion of the
Democratic party meets to exchange
compliments-there is no group far
Their removed from the sentiment of
the masses whether you measure that
sentiment by economical, social OF
religious standards"