The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-06-08

world had previousay heard the voice
OF American fearlessness. and all the
condition. single ~ out Tor leader
ship among the neutral powers. but
the administration At Washington
spoke with more rhetoric than reso-
luton. ana We came TO realize what
the warning powers soon came to
know. tna1 the onicaal American v:ice
lacked the volume OF determined ex.
preston that once demanded fntefns-
tional heed. and We lacked the
strength or conndence IN our own de-
renses.
II fs too early to estimate the deAt
ana credit account OF the European
war with civilization. Out OF McA-
sureiess cost ana inestimabie heroisrn
must come q rebirth pf individual
spirituality. reawakened att o n
hopes, new liberties and new baptisms
In patriotism which must prove some
compensation, But We have seen CIV
iization stripped OF the pretenses which
clothed mans savagery. and we have
seen elemental man, developed IN
genius and more formidable because
Of that. intoxicated with power or i'm
passioned In the greed OF conquest.
offending 'or Defending. contradict
Ing every evidence OF mankinds hui
name Advancement. In the envy or
1ealousy or rivalry or hatred. refined
by boosted civilization. are the bar
bar1ttes OF primitive man, ana the
sea- OF oosoiescence - NOT yet stamped
upon the warriors sword.
For Nsdonal Defense.
Pernaps II ID reminder moro than
discovery, but there has come 10 US
conviction that this great nation,
rich In resources and strong In pa
trfotfc manhoou, has been nsgn$ent
concerning It's own defense. We have
dwelt In fancied rather than real &C.
curity. Pride mingies with regret in
this. because It suggests the mind or
a nation so free from intended offense
tnat there was no cultivated tnouSnt
OF needed DEFENSE Our righteousncss
or purpose Is portrayed In our trtst
IN unarmed saiety- But tnere ~
warning In bleeding Europe, and there
Is call today for prudent. patriotic
and ample national defense. THERE'S
no mistaking the sentiment We are
NOT thinking OF the hystericai, we need
not De moved by Preparedness
which - partisan IN conception ,se
need not believe In detense propa-
ganda inspired by those who aim to
and munitions, because there 10 none.
I deplore the teaching that an en- Sictv
about our national defense Is inspired
by greed. We rejoice ins free spe ,'.h
and free press and untrammeiled
opinion. but patriotism is lily promot-
ed by the imputation OF false motives.
whether aimed at those who believe
IN oeIehse or those VINO oount us
wsooH- sucn a .eachins rehus the
concord on ciuzehsnp. Whicn may ue-
seiop worse peru from "'"'h .''ah
i1oh any enemy wAuou-
lhoush we 40 not pIe'eno 70 Dc ea-
ciusise .n our ueeo,ion' We nepuo,i-
cans peIeSe' sinsersiy anu sousis. IA
aeequaee natiohai ueehse. we nase
always oeneVeo IN an ainpie navy as
,nsine,o,e Ia mous'n misn' as .onn
raui .ones pu'i1ro In our ieeuo,n
proeec'co coH"eISe On the "ale' =,
sna seacUss' sesure IN Irons nasat
as -. a. ~ n ~
D hns",1 pais -. up.eu, ~nu W.
suooe ss.oss. ,,,n.aa No. ~
oee1ass y. new &c sa.a1,on =. .no
ensy ~. W." tn..,, oa. 80 aau nn ~.
nssIcs 'saoe. am app'
% our Sothihanu,.s uie
.as % 'ne Moa Ia ~. sas
ma oa.s " ny. 'ne s.ea. a.
Ia,,t,,a,.a .o >. 1870 ". .s e
,n 80 100 ~ a,,nss ,.s,a..au 80 800,
nus y. ou' o'e az. go W. oos -.
W na'e navy III. ... ia .ne
W..s ar" IT, a. -
W
A'io mus. oe spee'e1'
Economy In security.
II 10 not Tor me to specify the pro-
visions for naval defense. since mod
ern warfare Is In large part con-