The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-05-20
COLONEL ROOSEVELT AT DE-
TROlT

Colonel Roosevelt has a way Of
getting down to the elements when
he discusses public affairs; Of using
historical and literary and biblical
illusions that carry his point
straight home. He doesn't general
lie much or speculate much. He goes
to the heart of his subject, and uses
illustrations that his hearers will be
sure to understand.
He went to Detroit to talk about
preparedness; and he said he had
gone there because It was Henry
Ford's home, and he wanted to talk
where Ford was strongest. That was
perfectly frank and square. He
talked about the possibilities Of our
country being involved in war; and
he named japan and Germany as the
two nations constituting real men,
aces. Again, perfect candor; no
concealment or hocus pocus about 1t.
A man who for eight years controlled
the foreign policy Of the country
must know whether there are rea-
sons to fear possible war with Ger
many or Japan. He must know, too,
that the responsibility Of his own
position as a man who has been
President makes it incumbent not to
speak lightly Of such things. He did
not speak lightly. He spoke solemnly,
earnestly, out Of information and
conviction. It was a warning that
this country must heed, lest one day
1t shall repent its heedlessness in
sackcloth.N
Roosevelt's plea to the American
people is, first, that they realize that
there is real, imminent danger con-
fronting them; and, second, that they
get together as a nation, a real
unity, a solidarity of understanding
and purpose, to guard against any
danger. It is useless to talk about
our wealth, our potential power; our
wealth is the temptation to any
spoiler able TO come for it; our po-
tential power is not available force
unless to organize and make it avail
able.
Almost two years have passed
since we confronted this world-cata-
clysm; two years in which 1t has
been possible for Britain to add a
million tons of fighting force to her
navy; the years in which she has
raised an army of four millions OF
men. Every day in those same two
years our country has been in danger
of involvement in the war. What
have we done, with our vaster num-
bers, our greater wealth, to compare
with what Britain has done?
Nothing at all.
Roosevelt is doing more than any
man in the nation to compel the peo-
pie to realize how wickedly danger
Gus it is thus to blink the danger
that is fairly bursting upon our
sight and our consciousness. There
is almost nothing else in the world
to see; yet we refuse, as a nation,
to see it. Individuals see and under
stand; many of them do; but in our
community capacity, at the end OF
two years, we have accomplished
what?
The framing of a pitifully made
quate program for larger army;
And the Observation-Disclosures all
of naval expansion bill that salts
fies absolutely nobody except those
who would be best pleased if no ad-
ditions at all were to be made ia
either army or navy.
Colonel Roosevelt is making him.
self the evangel of the new gospel
that oils US to realize, to act, to
prepare, before it shall be too late
He preached that gospel at Detroit
in the fashion of a man bent or
servil.; his country's needs rather
than his own anbitions