Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-06-08

war with CIVILIZATION. Out OF measure
less cost and inestimabe heroism must
come rebirth of indiy$lual spiritu.
atty, reawakened national hopes, new
liberties and new baptisms in patriot
ism which must prove some compensa.
ton.
For National Defense.
Perhaps it is a reminder more than
discovery, but there has come to us
n conviction that this great nation, rich
I'm resources and strong in patriotic
manhood, has been negligent concern
ing its own defense. We have dwelt
in fancied rather than real security
Pride mingles with regret in this be-
cause it suggests the mind of nation
so free from intended offense that there
was no cultivated thought of needed
defense. Our righteousness of purpose
Is portrayed in our trust in unarmed
safety. But there is warning in
bleeding Europe. and there Is call to-
day for prudent, patriotic and ample
national defense. There is no mistak.
ing the sentiment. We are not think.
Ing OF the hystcrical. We need not be
moved by preparedness which is par
tlsan in conception We need not be-
lieve in defense propaganda inspired
by those who aim to wax fat in the
production Of arms and munitions be-
cause there is none. I deplore the
teaching that an anxiety about our ma
tional defense is inspired by greed
We rejoice in free speech and untram-
meled opinion, but patriotism is lily
promoted by the imputation Of false
motives, whether aimed at those who
believe in defense or those who doubt
its wisdom. Such a teaching rends the
concord Of citizenship, which may de-
velop worse peril from within than
from any enemy without.
Though we do not pretend to be ex-
elusive in our devotion, we Repub-
leans believe, sincerely and soberly, in
adequate national defense. We have
always believed in an ample navy, as
invincible in modern might as John
Paul Jones builded in our freedoms
earliest fight. We have in mind pro-
tected commerce on the waters and
seacoast secure in strong naval de-
Tense. We were building high rank
among naval powers when the Demo
cratic party interrupted. and we sub
scribe to Il stronger committal now be-
cause of new realization of the envy
which our wealth and our commerce
invite and new appreciation of our
commanding place in the affairs of the
world. | shall not say that it is ours
to have the greatest navy in the world.
but, noting the elimination of distance
and the passing of our one time isola-
ton, we ought to have navy that
fears none in the world and can say
any time and anywhere. These are
American rights and must be respect
ed"
Economy In Security.
1t is not for me to specify the provi-
sions for naval defense Since modern
warfare Is in large part conflict Of
brains. so must naval defense be de-
vised in highest intelligence. Let us
strengthen every arm-aerial, subma-
rine fleet cruisers and great dread
naughts. Let him who Is anxious
about the cost remember that Repub-
lican policies afford the ample means
without conscious burdens upon the
people. Every forchanded American
citizen, whatever his activity. knows
that the cost of insurance against &C.
cident, theft, fire, flood or thunderbolt,
assessed as fixed charge upon his in
come, is worth its cost in peace of
mind, though loss never attends. More
over under any system security is
economy itself
There are manifest differences about
our developments for military defense
The president made trip from the
coast to the valley Of the Missouri to
tell the American people the need of
preparedness. 1t might have been
more seemly to tell the story to con-
gress, for that body was in session and
empowered to act, and seemingly ever
ready to testify obedience. However,
congress undertook to provide an army
for defense, and the majority wobbled
between pacification and preparedness
until the Republican minority in the
senate put something real in the pend
ing measure. We Republicans made a
rational response to the call Of the
land, but Democratic insutIiciency and
/ inefiiciency are recorded in the confer
ence amended act and federal nitrate
plant to supply powder to the patriots
and pap to the paternalists and federal
! fertilizer to the farmers in competition
with private enterprise is the great
constructive Offering of a Democratic
I majority.
Until the civilized world is pledged
and repledged to peace, and until civil
Zation commits nations to the nobler
practices Of the individuals who con-
stitute them. in which l would have
America lead, this republic will have
need for a basic army and a ready pro-
vision for military defense. We pro-
claim justice and we love peace, and
we mean to have them-and we are
not too proud to fight for them
No Curse of Militarisn.
Let no one apprehend the curse of
militarism in this fair land, We de,
clare unalterably against it. Our free
citizenship, walking confidently, alb.
sorbed in the triumphs of peace would
tolerate no such blight on American
institutions. There is to be no sur.
render of cherished ideals. With that
yearning for peace which has marked
I