Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-14
The Demand for Preparedness.

Today Washington attests to its pa
triotic demand for the provision of ade-
quate national defense. Tens of thou
sands of men, women and children are
marching through its streets in a pa
rade the like of which has not been seen
in America. At its head has walked
the President of the United States, TAX
ing his place as citizen of the re
public in. the demonstration and later
reviewing the procession in his official
capacity as the leader of the nation. The
government departments have marched
in the line, each headed by its cabinet
chief. Citizens of all lines of occupa-
ton, business men, employees. artisans.
groups of people forming social and fra
ternal organizations, citizens assoeia
tons, school children. the professions,
all are represented in the orderly throng
that for hours has passed along Penn
sylvania avenue. saluted the President
and appropriately rounded the Wash
ington Monument. symbol of the stead
fastness of the American purpose.
The meaning of this demonstration is
deep one. Spontaneously it has come
about, participation quickly following
suggestion. The people were ready to
give evidence of their feeling that it is
the duty of the lawmakers to enact leg
islation that will put the United States
in state to defend itself in the perhaps
enemy.
1t does not argue a tendency to mill
tarism that these thousands have so
quickly responded to the invitation to
give evidence of their desire that the
country he better prepared for an emer-
geney. 1t does not signify that the
American people have been fred by the
spirit of conquest, or oppression. or that
there is any disposition in the country
to invite trouble by a show of force. A
more pacific people perhaps never dweit
upon the earth than the American peo-
pie of today. But they have analysed
the happenings of the past two years
in Europe, and have learned the lesson
that is being taught there on scores of
battleieIds, the lessons of lamentable
unreadiness to stand against a foe.
Trust cannot be implicitly placed in
the safeguards of treaties. Confidence is
i'll reposed in friendly assurances.
nation unready to defend itself is in
danger. No longer are the lines of
world politics so drawn as TO exclude
any nation from possible harm at the
hands of an aggressive, greedy, schem-
ing power 1t is the duty of every citi-
zen to realize the possibility of attack,
and to. appreciate the unreadiness of
the country today. That it is not pre-
pared for the supreme emergency of in
vasion has been repeatedly demon
strated. That it needs a more certain
bulwark of defense is certain.
These preparedness parades which
have been held in various cities, with
today's demonstration elimaxing them IN
point of proportionate numbers and the
presence of the chiefs of the govern
ment in the line of march, mean that
the demand for adequate provision is
imperative, that temporizing and half
measures viii not be endured. They
signify that the spirit which animated
the eolonists when they threw off the
yoke of England still prevails in Amer
lea. and that the people of the United
States are determined to trust no longer
in the mere size of the country, in its
immense resources and its eventual abil
ity 10 meet an enemy. but demand that
the measures of defense be provided
now, and systematically developed, and
that the people themselves shall be pre-
pared 10 take their part whenever the
cali TO duty may come, which it is the
prayer of all may be long distant.