The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-05-21

hand because of the feebleness of its RI
val? The pages of history literally
abound with instances to the contrary,
eff the only reason that we should
not prepare such strength as may be
necessary to protect ourselves is because
| of fear that we may be tempted to
misuse it and may in fact misuse it, it
were better to run that risk than the
risk of feebleness and weakness against
the strength of others which is Just as
likely, ON this theory, of being misused
against us.
"Our geographical position undoubted-
ly minimzes the danger OF invasion OF
our continental possessions. Our lack of
aggressive intention and our righteous in
tentions minimize the sources and causes
of war; our isolation has not as fact
assured our freedom from conflict; and
other nations relatively as isolated have
been involved in war; and no sound rea-
son can be adduced which would Justify
sane man in concluding that isolation
alone spells safety. Furthermore, our
isolation is geographical only. No nation
dwclls unto itself alone. Modern condi-
lions have caused the interests of ma
tions to be as correlated as those of fam
lies who have intermsrried. The inter
ests of many of the large nations to-day
are inetricably interviewer with those OF
some or all OF the Others
"Nor can sure reliance be placed upon
our lack of aggressive intention, our free
dom from covetousness. or our tendency
toward righteousness. The conflicts and
struggles in the spiritual and the ply
steal spheres are not always or often be-
tween the unrighteous and the upright |
eous, or between the covetous. Evil preys
upon virtue. the unjust upon the just.
and the coyetous upon those whose pos
sessions they coyet
"Self respect. without which man is an
animal, requires that We
should be prepared TO protect that which
We cherish. which not only includes our
possessions. but that intangible
which makes us a distinctive
nation in the ewes Of the world. Some
,ne has very finely said that il does not
matter so much what happens as the
with which you face il; and very
,ften the consequences of conflict, abhor-
-ent as many OF its incidents are, have
brought forth some fine. hitherto unde
'eloped strain in \ people and made them
yorthier to contribute 10 the progress Of
utilization.
another obstacle 10 the proper con.
liberation OF the subject is potent, though
,crhaps in many cases unconscious. II Is
he question Of expense or cost. Men set
side for military service. while SO serv
ne. and money spent Tor military ma
erial. are assumed 90 b. wasted: and
his consideration causes many 10 turn
side from a further consideration Of the
uhiect.
IL goes without saving Of course. that
expenditure in any line Is
.aste; but IL i equally true that a ne,
ssary expense. whatever the tangible re-
urn therefrom NAV be. IL not waste.
@In general way. most governmental
Expenditures produce no tangible profit
iey are not like the expenditure Of the
citizen that produces some
ing that BE- secs and ran handle or ran
lentify and ssse@s its value. Govern
Icntal expenditures arr. 20 10 saw. over
rad charges which The community ron
-ibutes from the pockets Of all 20 that
leh. BY reason Of such expenditures hav-
r. been made and the result thereof.
ay pursue his daily vocation with ~
teudsut profit The eNpense and cost +
government u largely composed Of