Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-11-05
Plan Is Departure From Ira
ditiOns and Change Of
National Policies
WHY INDORSE EUROPE BY
INITIATING Her FOLLY?
Speak Softly But Carry ;
Big Stick" Is a Misleading
DeIuSive Maxim

y
his former Premier w. j. Bryan over
the administration defense program
became unmistakable today. Bryan de-
clared he viewed the president S New
York speech on preparedness with "sor-
row and concern
'"rhe president is doing what he be.
lieves is h's duty but | feel it my
duty to dissent Bryan declared "We
cannot criticise his motives as he has
given his views with clearness and EN-
phasis, but those who differ with him
are under a like obligation to express
themselves with equal clearness.
! "The president will not assume that
he is more deeply interested in the
cOuntry's welfare than the millions who
elected him temporarily to be their
spokesman.
j "If he giving voice to his country
men Is opinion, he is as anxious to have
them frank with him as he has been
with them. How otherwise can he
know whether he represents or mis-
represents their viewsl
A False Philosophy.
"The plan he proposes is not only a
departure from our traditions, but a
reversal of national policy. 1t is not
only menace to our peace and safety
but challenge to the spirit of chris
tianity which teaches us to influence
others by example rather than by ex-
citing fear.
"lt is false philosophy. From its
falsity, it inevitably leads into diff
ficulty. The spirit which makes an
individual carry revolver, leads him
not to use it on slight provication but
to use language which will provoke.
"Speak softly but carry big
stick is the delusive maxim employed
by those who put their faith in force.
There are two answers to it. First, the
man who speaks softly hasn't the dis
position to carry club. Second, if
the man with the soft voice is per
suaded to carry club, his voice
changes as soon as he begins to rely on
| the club.
".Why reverse our policy now7 The
president admits there is no reason for
the change. He says the country is
not threatened from any quarter; she
stands in friendly relation with all
the world
"To make the statement more en-
phatic he adds:
" !There is no fear among us.
Why Change Our Policy?
'1f we are not threatened if rela-
tons with all nations are friendly, if
everybody knows we are able to de-
fend ourselves if necessary, if there
is no fear among us, why then is this
time chosen to revolutionize the nation
al theory and exchange our policy for
that of Europel Why abandon the
hope we have long entertained Of set
ting an example for EuropeG
"Why encourage the nations Of
Europe in their folly by initiating
! theml
"Why impose upon the western
hemisphere policy so disastrousY
ado we not expect all Latin America
to be stimulated to preparation if we
enter new era Of preparation' Will
not such policy make conflicts be
tween those republics more probable? a?
VIII Do Infinite Harm
awe will do infinite harm to our
neighbors as well as to ourselves If we
are drawn into this policy which pro.
yokes war by preparation which is i'm
| possible without largo increase Of
taxation. We are now spending more
than $225,0O000O yearly on prepared.
ness--ten times what we are spending
on agriculture. feel sure the tax.
payers will not favor increasing this
/ ,,,han ,ba obonun iu ,ot nuIv unuoonu.