The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-02-05
Secretary Herbert on
Necessity Of Preparedness.

Illuminating article headed 1.-THE
GraHest Crisis In Human History
Necessity for Preparedness and for
the Proper Location OF Munition
Plants" appears IN late issue of the
Manufacturers Record, has back of
him long life devoted to his coun-
try's welfare. His views should there
fore carry great weight. He was the
last colonel Of the Eighth Alabama
Regiment In the Army Of Northern
Virginia. He was severely wounded
at the battle Of the Wilderness in
1854. Altar the war he resumed the
practice of law at Greenville, Ala,
later removing TO Montgomery. He
was active IN all the struggle against
carpet-bagsers IN Alabama from
1867-G4, and published In the Century
Magazine three years ago an article,
Elbow We Redeemed Alabama" which
attracted vids attention. He served
IN the house Of representatives con-
aecutfveIy from 1877 TO 1893. When
Cleveland became president In 1885,
Mr.. Herbert was selected by the
speaker, at the request of Secretary
Whitney and the president, 30 head
the naval committee, Of which he had
never been member. He served on
that committee for the eight years
1eS6-1Se8, for three terms as chair
man and the other term, the Republic
cans having the house, as first among
the Democrats on the committee. He
was in President Cleveland's cabinet
from 18e3-97, going out with Mr..
Cleveland, who was always his close
friend.
When Mr.. Herbert went in, three
small ships had been laid down under
Chandler, the beginning of
our new navy. AS chairman of the
naval committee, Mr.. Herbert assisted
Secretary Whitney in laying broad
for the new navy, with
armor plant contracted for at Beth
lehem and gun plant established at
Washington. Mr.. Herbert's first bill
provided for seven vessels, and the
navy was gradually built up. He con-
Quoted his bills on non-partisan
grounds. As chairman of the COM
mittee during Benjamin E. Tracy's
administration of the navy depart
ment, Mr.. Herbert conferred with and
supported his measures as Loyalty as
he had done Whitney's. He was a.
warm friend Of Tracy's. When Cleve-
land came in, 1893, leading Repubi-
cans In the house were among those
who recommended him for secretary.
Intimately associated with our navy
in this way, Mr.. Herbert is one who
can speak with authority. The nation
can well afford to study his wise adj
vice.
Mr.. Herbert says, among other
things:
cit was undoubtedly the unpre-
paredness of the allies that caused
Germany and Austria to make war
against nations that had twice their
fighting strength; but in the face of
all of this evidence, our pacifst of
today thinks that it was the compe-
tition in preparedness that bred this
terrible war. The way to prevent
war, he insists, is for nation not to
prepare for war at all, but to be good
and set an example, like an Individual,
of fair dealing and justice to ALL
mo people ever yet established
their independence except by fighting
for it, as did our ancestors, and we
are not informed even in Holy Writ,
Of any nation that, once having in
ever kept it by being
good and setting an example to
others. Such a sight this world will
see when the millennium comes. Up
to the present we have no account of
any nation that ever maintained its
independence long enough to enable
historian to record the fact of its
existence save only by preparedness
to defend il. This does not mean that
small nations can or do rely upon
their own resources alone, but it does
mean that no nation, with territory
enough to be Of Importance to others,
has ever yet maintained It's independ-
ence, even with the assistance of other
nations, without being prepared itself