The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-05-28
NATION MUST ARM,
ASSERTS GARRISON
UNITED STATES MUST BE READY
FOR WAR IN ORDER TO
PRESERVE PEACE.
WEAKNESS NO PROTECTION
Secretary of War, Addressing Arbitra-
ton Conference, Delivers Telling
Blows at Arguments Against
Military Preparedness.

Lake Mohonk, N. Y, May 21.-The
United States must arm Immediately
II it is to keep its place among the
nations, Secretary of War Lindley M
Garrison told the pacifists gathered
here for the annual conference on in
ternational arbitration, in a brilliant
speech, carefully argued and bristling
with striking epigrams.
He declared the real problem of
American national defense is to get
the people to look the facts squarely
In the face. Only united nation can
accomplish anything in arming for the
conflict which is bound to come sooner
or later We shall be despised among
the nations of the earth and our
righteousness will not save US from
the aggressions of the unrighteous if
We remain weak and fiabby, he de-
clared. We must be ready to make
war in order to keep the blessings of
peace. Self-preservation is the first
law of nation.
Nation Must Be Self-respecting
A nation, to deserve preservation,
must be sane, just, righteous, self-re-
speeding and courageous" he contin-
ued. "Since it only obtained those
virtues by conflict of one sort or an
other, it can only retain them and thus
insure it's own preservation by being
prepared in every proper way to de-
fend them from the inevitable assaults
which will be made against them.
mo; turning aside won't dot not |
only will not prevent the calamity, but |
will also serve to make its effects more |
disastrous if and when it does come. |
II we would respect ourselves and de-
serve the respect of others, and have
that courage without which man is
useless, we must not shink from or
shirk our problem because of any Of
Its repellent or repulsive features"
Taking Military Precautions.
a great deal of inattention and
considerable opposition is based upon
the statement and belief that if ma
ton takes military precautions and
makes military preparation it invites
Whit it seeks to prevent or repel
Tins contention does not seem TO have
ann foundation in reason or in fact.
1t certainly is not so in any other like
situation. either in our spiritual or our
physical life. Those who entertain I
and give expression to this feeling
would be shocked, | am sure, If SIM :
lar attitude to that which they have !
N this matter were applied to other
Ike matters. Does the individual in
ute evil by preparing himself to with +
'tand the assaults of temptation? Does
he citizen invite the confagation by .
preparing force to extinguish and r
minimize the results of fire? a
No Safety in Weakness g
They however, who deprecate the Il
aking of these precautions and the RI
making of these preparations urge Il
tin further opposition somewhat akin n
0 that just disposed Of They say: a
4 you are strong enough to fight you N
re more likely to fight; or, stated in r,
he negative, If your nation is not pre- ii
AIRED for war, your nation will be less Il
kelly to be involved in war. m
THE question is, how do you justi- 81
7 your trust that other nations which
re strong will refrain from misusing
leir strength against us if you fear W
lat we, If strong, would misuse our el
.rength against other nations? There tn
no basis for any such unjust an pi
nadversion against our nation and st
IT people" ga