The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-17
BECK CHIDES BRYAN
AS NEW ABSALOM
Tells Society Of Colonial Wars
Of Folly in Opposition
to Preparedness.
STIRS $50 TO APPLAUSE

~ ava DNNh INCttCu U 81
Bryan to Absalom in a preparedness
speech that stirred the Society Of Co
loniai Wars TO applause at Delmonico's
last night. The society was having It's
twcnty-second annual dinner. Many
men Of the army and navy md the Ma
tional Guard were In the company OF
$50.
I'VE are living In q most perilous
time" said Mr.. Beck. I'VE are almos,
certain to come out Of the European con-
hict with the hatred OF one group Of
combatants-possibly with both. It ID
possible that we may not ave an homes,
friend among all the nations.
"In view OF the terrific commissions
that are going to follow the war the
most ordinary prudence demands that
this country put Its house in order with
the least possible delay.
lees Folly In Opposition.
"Our lack of preparedness ought to
distress every patriotic American. Yet
We see M American openly a~ntasoniS-
ing tho proposal Of our President to
make ready against tho evil day that
IL plainly foreshadowed. He IL saying
that we ought to spend our money on
roads instead Of on the army and navy.
lie doesn't stop to think that those very
roads would become an avenue whereby
tho invading enemy could penetrate the
CO untry.
at IL distressing that an American
who has been three times a candidate
for the highest office and who represents
n certain proportion Of our people should
be a~ntaEonistic In this most vital matter.
lie reminds me of Absalom. another man
who had a voice that could he heard
through the nation. and VIII, also said
'Oh, tina were made a Judge In the
land Absa!om misled his people and
they turned against him. We may find
consolation in the thought that perhaps
the fate that overlook the demagogue
Absalom may overtthe the demagogue
Bryan tApplause.l
Mr.. Beck said that America a never
been ready for a. single war involving
its destiny. The Revolution was ''ar
act OF sublime audacity," for when |,
started there was not "a powder maker
In the country. and Washington gravely
''lOoS Nhh Nho VoA siioutu VIC AohAu
with pixies.
AT Bunker HILL" Mr.. Beck went on
every American soldier had just one
gill of powder. and when 1t was spent
our men had to retreat. In 1912 We
won some brilliant sea victories. but or
land success was conspicuously absen,
until the battle Of New Orleans. Tough,
after peace had been declared. A few
thousand British soldiers landed In thu
~ ,naLa a,l AAut rA Nl"s.
Cost In NadIso.'s Day.
at was because OF our lack OF pro.
paredness that Madison tried to loaf
loan of $4,000. 600. carrying Z per cent
interest and "a bonus OF 80 per cent.
which would have failed II Stepher
Girard hadn't come forward and taker
the whole loan.
THE reason for Lincoln's calling 70,
only $4,000 mel at the start of the civil
war was that there weren't 75,OOC
mYskets in the whole country. Europ,
had to be ~ransacked for them. Mean.
while there vas delay and loss of life
that bcggars description.
AZ to the Spanish war. all OF u.
remember the loss of life and the fever
camps due to unpreparedness. We should
have learned our lesson"
Another speaker, Charles II. Sheriff.
eX-Minister TO Argentina, poked fun a,
Mr.. Bryan and said that Americans ar,
taking their "~hyphenates' too seriously
He insisted that very few of them would
he d~isloyal IL trouble came from
abroad.
There were also speeches from Major
Henry Gansevoort Sanford, governor OF
the society. who presided. and Major
John Fitzpatrick OF the New Jersey Ma.
tional Guard. Rear Admiral Nathanie'
u. Usher. connnapdant of tine Brooklyn
nay yard Col. Edwin +. Glenn, chief oi
stan OF the Department Of the East, l.
:. A.. and Capt. Charles T.. Kilbourne
u. q. A. were among the nations hght.
ing men at the guest table.