The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-04-08
IA~y~. former Socialist Candidate
for Congress

Editor Tho Star: am not n
peace at any.rrico" man. do not
belisye one should kiss the rod that
beats him. turn the other cheek 10
those who strike him. or do any
other OF those spiritless and disas-
rous things which marked the lie
OF tho early Christians
think q nation as nm Individual.
should have some ideal or prinei.
pia. In tho necessary defense oil
which n would gladly Offer lts life.
But while | respect n man or u
nation that will resist by force an
invasion OF his or It's rights. or the
rights OF weaker associates, Ne
must use our common sense and
measure our preparedness BY tho
likelihood OF our being attacked.
Almost without thinking. we. as lndi-
yidusis. realize thst danger OF an
assault IL remote and speculative.
and "a wisely permit ourselves TO
20 about unarmed and unarmorcd,
aitho Amos, hopeicssly unable 10
resist an attack n II should come.
The menace OF possible assault 10
less -burdensoms than tho certain
and continuing nuisance OF being
always Adequately prepared TO
NEE, ~.
In considering. then. the question
Of our national preparedness. We
mus, frs, try 10 refund and duly
exercise our national common
sense. now almost frightened away
ny our professional iingoes. nag
fiappers and tho ,rsffickers. who
profit from warn and the rumofs
OF war.
All dishonest advocates OF pre-
paredness mus, frat be scourEed
from our national councils before
We can discuss the matter sensibly.
They are now vilfuiiy and diAboI
icaliy poisoning the minds OF our
people. They scream their phrases
a. us nom their bill boards. flauns
their psrversions before our ssyss 81
the movies. and snbtiy mould our
minds with their venal papers.
Tho acsivitie. OF these proses-
sionai opinion ak~rs must be sup
pressed or discredlted before We
can Nneiy proceed with any pre-
paredne-s program.
For the present. We mus. reaiire
that tho danger OF this country from
invasion was never less than now.
and 10 diminishing with every week
that the great war eripples aud I'm.
poveri.hes all possible foes.
That there II q preparedness hys.
terra rampant In America none can
deny. An hysterical nation ia an ur.
III to transact important business
or formulas fundamental policies
IS Z. an hys,-rioal individual
National sanity should prccete the
formulation Of national policies.
The one kind of preparedness
with which everyone must agree.
involves building up the CONNER
eiai, social and diplomatic ties that
preserve and strengthen our friend
ships with all foreign nations. espe-
cialiy possible foes. together with a
vigorous international campaign for
the establishment OF n world tri-
bunai. backed by the armed force
OF all the contracting nations. which
shall establish rule OF reason by
which TO settle international dis.
putes. and end forever war among
nations as private dueling has been
ended among civilized men.
II IL not enough 10 be against the
programs OF military preparedness
as proposed. we must embark on a
positive program 20 secure peace.
Peace IL the greatest need OF the
world. and we civilized peoples
must insist on establishing II on
earth--eyen II VIC have TO fight
/ for ~