The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1916-06-03
LOCKING THE DOOR TOO LATE.

from loss at the nandS Oh JnleVeS by
putting a paddock On his barn door.
The banker who cares for your mon
ey locks it up in his great burglar
proof safe at night.
When the merchant goes home after
the days labor he leaves his goods un-
der lock and key and bolts and bars.
The individual invariably takes
measures to protect his own.
But not so with US as a nation. We
have accumulated vast stores of
wealth, but have neglected to provide
the necessary means for the protec-
ton of that wealth.
1t is true that after months of in
difference congress has at last passed
a preparedness measur by providing
for the increase of the regular army
and the National Guard to a total ap-
proximate force of about 100000 men.
But it will be several years before this
force can be gathered together and
armed and equipped and drilled and
disciplined and put in shape to meet
an enemy on 81 equal terms. In the
meantime we are just about where we
were before the bill was passed-with-
out a lock to u door.
1t is not likely now that we will
have any trouble with European
tries after the present wal is over.
We sincerely hope not.
But we are not so sanguine as to the
attitude of Japan. Our present state
of national helplessness has forced
congress and the administration to
bow to the demands of Japan and
eliminate from an immigration bill
certain sections which were designed
to protect American laboring men
from the cheap japanese labor that
has been flooding this country. There
was no help for it. 1t was a case of
bow or fight, and we are in no condi-
ton to fight.
If Japan would be content with her
victory all might even yet be fairly
well. But it is doubtful if she will be
content. The Japanese are a warlike
people, determinedly bent upon secur-
ing equal rights on the American con-
tinent.
And right here enters the present
element of danger to our peace and
security of the future.
The Mexicans hate everything
American. They are imbued with the
mistaken idea that we are a people
who will not fight, and hence they con
slider US beneath their contempt.
1t is reasonably well known that
Mexican emissaries are in Japan seek
ing the aid of the Japanese people in
a war against the United States.
Nothing would suit the japanese de-
signs and purposes better than such
an alliance. 1t would afford them the
coveted opportunity and excuse for
Selling the Philippines, which they
greatly desire. A great army could
be landed on our Pacific coast and we
could not prevent it. Another ire
mendous army of Japanese could be
landed in Mexico, and in cooperation
with the Mexicans could invade US
across the border at a hundred differ
ent points simultaneously. Our pres
ent military strength is so ridiculously
small that we would be hopelessly out
numbered and outmatched at every
point.
Press dispatches show every indi-
cation that the Mexicans are expect
ing just such an alliance with the Jap
anese, and if the attack comes at all
it will not be delayed until we have
had two or three years in which to
collect and drill an army. 1t will
come soon, while we are still in a
hopeless and helpless condition.
The American people are at last
awakening to a realization of the peril
of our national helplessness, and con-
gress is taking belated steps toward
defense for our homes and III great
wealth. But are we locking the door
too late? Will the marauder gain
entrance before the paddock can be
made?
A stick of dynamite is a child's toy
compared with the Mexico-Japanese
situation which confronts the Ameri-
can government and people today.
A single word from Tokyo or Mex
leo City is of more vital concern to us
than a whole column from the Euro
pean front.
Much of our future success in this