The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-05
THE DEFENCE CAMPAIGN.
A WOman's Spirited Appeal for Dill
gence in Preparation.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE suN-Sir.
Never hail we be "a great and powerful
nation until we realize and fulfil those
responsibilities and obligations which we
owe 10 the country In which we have
p~rospered. The people who are opposed
to the building up of our defences
should take Into consideration that u
President fully appreciates the necessity
for this movement. Mr.. ChOate. Colonel
Roosevelt. Senator Root and many other
OF our intelligent statesmen strongly ad-
vocate this. realizing the gravity OF our
situation. Surely the opinion of such
men should count with a hesitating
publtc.
II Is well known that our navy. at
one time the second In rank In the world,
Is now only the fifth. Our military and
naval officers are "muzZled' n there
fore unable to max statements which
might reveal our ridiculous ineiilciency.
We have not reached the millennium yet.
and as IL is necessary TO have an army
and navy, why not have adequate ones
otherwise. why burden the ration with
the expense OF a protection which does
not protect?
Admiral Fiske states that we should
have at least Nifty ships on our length
of coast, on the Atlantic and the Pacific.
Gan we question the Judgment Of one
In a position TO know, "A man who Is
considered by all who know him as the
most competent person to mako this
statement?
Money Judic.ously spent to further
this cause will make us once more u
power In the world and Is our only safe
guard In the future.
II the large appropriations had been
cOnscientiously expended on Ii navy
xNe shnul1 mt ~ tho rrggsnf rlnrn,nt he
mourning the contempt Of the world. Is
II not disgraccful to nov that a war
ship recently built. on which large sums
have been squardered, now stands con-
demned and unfit for active service. be-
cause our politicians profted by utillZ-
ing the cheapest materials In her con-
struct!on" Four new submarines now
lyin. In the harbor Of Newport are also
condemned. though In an emergency IL
has been suggested that they might b.
"tirkered' up a bit. These are lameu.
table facts hat should cause us to blush
with shame How long are We goIuc
TO stand for this corruption and graf
which is tearing Town and uprooting al
our fine principles and becoming a ma
tonal stigma
Did not George Washington fnrcsec q
menace to our increasing prosperity
when In his speech to Congress o.
December 3. 1888. ne called attention tc
this very necessity OF placing ourselve'
in a condition OF complete defence
Again he says. There is a rank due {,
the United states among nations whlcf
will be withheld. II not absolutely lost
10y the reputation " weakness.
II We desire to avoid insult, We mus
lie able to rcpel IT, Are We able &
r.pcl the insults which are being ncapet
upon us at this present time? Agar
Washington says: III We desire to Sc
cure pedle, one OF the most powerful in
struments OF our rising prosperity. i
must I've known that We are at all time:
ready for war" These We're the word.
Of a great mar looking into the future
and tina: future is ours to-day.
We stood apart in this great worlC
conflict and made no protest and CAV
no moral support to those nations which
turned to us. the largest of all neutra
nations. for this support. We wer'
silent. We cried out in the name IT hu
mainly AGAINST the many outraRes OF
warning nation on u citizens. w
cried out In deepest resentment we Eel
We could do nothing more.
Is not our position truly hur1',iating
Have We no, thus earned that "reputa
ton OF weakness of which Washing
ton spoke. and il not the rank due tn
United States among nations" just
withheld? Let us no longer Haunt IN
American flag on h Continent bu
, rather unfurl IL a. home. remcmbefini
all that II represents and regainlng IN
respect of the world which Ne have los
through our policy Of insufficient de-
fence.
Therefore ny building Tip our de
fences. we make Il now We are a, a.
times ready for war and are In a posi-
tion Ia protect our citizens at all time:
md can with dignity support II post
ton We may take. This is the only wa
We a truly become a great nation.
Oh, men and women Of America, IL
us Use our time, and our money, al
our influence. in working for this grea
cause, This should he our sacred dutl
Let US not through shortsightednes
leave the whirlwind to be reapcd by III
innocent children OF our generatio
through our criminal Indifference. Tn
day OF reckoning will surely come
Preparedness is on only salvation IN III
future, and preparedness should be III
religion Of the American people.
iEoRGrASA HARTMAN OWEN.
NEW YORK. December l.