New-York tribune., 1915-03-28
a MEANS OF Defence
The American Legion Highly Desir-
able for Use in Emergency.
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: In yesterdays paper Mrs. Pinchot
made an eloquent plea for the kind Of peace
which is the result Of lack Of the power OF
fence. and urged the adjustment Of the
plan for the American Legion on the plea
that the existence Of such an organization
would give US the desire to go TO war.
II does not seem as if this we're an en-
tirelv lust presentation Of the situation. Tho
American Legion at present does not amount
TO very much. and it may be that it will never
be as effective war machine as European
army. but to any ono looking at facts rather
than at beautiful ideas of universal peace and
brotherhood. il would seem as if a poor de
fence for our country would be much better
for US than none at all.
Az Of us who have human sympathies
iprcmacv among the nations of Europe, and
women. in particular, thinking of the suf-
ferngs OF their European sisters. must have
aching hearts. Yet il is mistake TO regard
war through our emotions only Much as we
would like 20 abolish even the possibility OF
such situation arising in our own land, we
should not insist upon our country being de-
prived Of its means OF defence, without very
serious thought upon the subject.
The present war is proof positive that civ
iization has not yet arrived at the stage OF
settling international disagreements by arbi-
tration, and no human being can prophesy
whom the world will reach such an en!ight-
ened stage Of development Until that much
desired time arrives men will continue to set
uc their disputes by fighting When the
present wsr is ended Europe will be exhaust
ed. and it will be long time before she be
gins again 70 think Of conquest by force of
arms Yet. some day, that thought will come,
and who knows but that ours will be the
coveted country?
sooner or later a young. big, rich and de-
fenceless nation is sure 20 be exposed to The
danger Of conquest BY some other nation. In
our case it may be Japan who will want our
country. Il is more than likely that none
Of US will live 10 see that day. but il W be
oueath TO our great-grandchildren the pos
session Of a tremendously rich country with
10 adequate means o. defence il may not re
main their country for very long Half a
.oaf is better than no bread" and an Ameri-
can Legion is better than no defence.
As nation we are not warlike in our
tastes. and the mere fact that We had some
means of defending ourselves il attacked
would not prompt Us to be aggresoively war
like in our demeanor 10 other nations. A
mau may he an excellent boxer without
pending a large part Of his time provoking
sights with other men. On the contrary the
expert boxer knowing what fighting really
means. is often less likely to begin a fight
than the unframed man
The same may be true OF nation. Uni
yersal peace is an ideal that is well worth
working for. but in the meantime let u not
forget the mperfcctions Of human nature ana
he fact that men and nations will have TO do
much moral and intellectual growing before
they can fulfil that ideal. And this growth
will probably require centuries Of time
ROSE H. PHELPS.
Hackensack, " j., March %, 1915.