The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-10-15


Unquestionably sinister in their
portent are the remarks by Secre-
tary McADoo at indianapolis and the
simultaneous reports from Washing
ton indicating a purpose to make the
great issue Of national preparedness
cover and carry the notorious project
Of q Government owned and operated
merchant marine.
A Trojan horse, indeed. that would
be: the discredited McAdoo scheme Of
Government competition with private
capital for the trade Of the oceans
conveyed back TO the Congress which
has once rejected 1t. this time within
the belly Of President WILSON'S plan
Of national defence!
Consider the incongruity Of the two
ideas; their union in this strange fash
lon is an afterthought.
In all our own legislative history.
and, We believe. in all the history Of
the legislation OF every other great
commercial Power. there is nothing
like this p%aternalistic and socialistic
proposal to engage the Federal Gov
eminent in the management Of a vast
business which 1t has no constitu.
tional warrant for undertaking. and
which both the letter and the spirit
Of our system Of institutions reserve
for private initiative and enterprise.
The Government owned mercantile
marine seems to be an Obsession OF
the present Secretary Of the Treas
ury. The mystery of its genesis, the
secret Of Its real purpose. remain hid
den behind the inscrutable Mona Lisa
smile Of that accomplished digger and
fnancier OF subterranean and sub,
aqueous passages.
The question Of national armament,
on the other hand. involves the very
first duty and function Of Federal
Government. In forming the Union
and framing the Constitution the PEG.
pie Of the United States did not dele
gate t. the general Government the
business Of sailing ships TO carry pas
sengers and freight across the high
seas; this mercantile business they re
served to themselves. But they did
delegate TO the general Government
the business and duty Of providing
for the common defence; Of protect
ing the citizens of the United States
engaged in the shipping industry. a.
well as their fellow citizens engaged
in all other sorts of private industry
against hostile attack on the high seas
at the coast line, or upon American
territory lying behind our frontiers
For this purpose the Congress wa
expressly empowered to raise and sup
port adequate land and naval forces
and the President OF the United States
was authorized to command the AIDE
Quate land and naval forces thus es
tablished by Congress.
The greatest question now befor,
the country. the question forced b.
universal observation of contemporar!
vents into its present position o
Overshadowing Importance, is that o
an immediate increase of the nation
defensive power sufficient to insure u
against swift destruction in the even
OF attack from abroad. This measur
of protection Is in the interest o
peace, not for the provocation of war
and the growing recognition of tn
fact that preparedness counts 70
peace has won for the general polio,
Of preparedness the ardent support O
many Of the ruest friends and advo
Gates Of peace to he found among on
fellow citizens. Loyal and dislntel
este6 Americans everywhere have re
joiced especially over recent report
and utterances which tended to sho,
that President WILSON was hearth
In accord with the general public sci
timent demanding an effective reol
gsnlzation Of the army, according =,
Secretary G~ARRIsoN's plans, and II
equivalent Increase in the eficienc
Of the navy.
This growing encouragement an
hopefuiness as to The attitude Of Il
Administration toward the programn