Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1916-07-18

uNluSs
Mr.. Bryan's heart is right. All
will admit that. But his Judgment
| is wrong, as it has been ever since
he attracted national attention in
1885 by his famous "cross OF gold
and crown Of thorns" address at the
democratic national convention that
year. Mr.. Bryan has abandoned
nearly all the principles for which
he fought and died. in that cam
paign and in few years hence the
principle Of non-preparedness for de-
tense, Of which he is now the leading
spokesman, will be found in the dis
card. The United States is going on
toward preparedness. President Will
son is for it now, though he was
against it few months ago. He
now sees the necessity % 1t and no
1 i = =. = 4 y . y
matter whether he or Judge Hughes
lis elected the principle will be car
ried out.
Mr.. Bryan complained at the size
Of the appropriations being asked
for by military and naval experts.
4 4 y & = e
Possibly he is right about it. No
doubt the experts are asking for more
THAN they expect or need. But they
know by experience that they never
Iget all they demand, hence they put
1.-THE estimates high in order that they
can stand reasonable cut. The
lFreeman-Tribune doesn't pretend to
know even approximately what 1t
will cost to put this country in posi-
Ition to resist any force that may be
.lmarshalled against it. But that
point doesn't interest us. We want
ample preparedness regardless Of
Icost and want every dollar expended
for that purpose to buy 100 cents
worth of defense. This nation is
worth 5000, 900, 100000 and it can
well afford the expenditure of few
billions. II needs be, to insure its per-
|petuity and its integrity. Mr.. Bry-
Ian said the experts want $800,O00,-
1000 per year for five years. That il
10 gigantic sum and is probably more
than will be required, but il we
Icould cut out our liquor bill for one
.|year enough would be saved, with
millions to spare, to supply the de-
! lmands OF even the most enthusiastic
-lexpert in the way Of national pre-
|paredness.
}, Mr.. Bryan secuted the idea that
1.-The European nations now at wal
can compose their differences and
ljoin in war OF conquest. But why
mot? 1t is only few years ago that
J Russia and Japan were at each 9th
: Ier's throats. Now they are allies
, Bulgaria and Turkey were in the
J Ithroes OF war short time since, YET
now they are fighting together
J, lagainst common foe. That is the
way of the world. Italy was the al.
lily Of Germany before this great war
but now they are enemies.
n Mr.. Bryan said that II prepared
mess prevented war there would be nc
!, war in Europe. II none of the ma
|tions were prepared that would hold
good. But where would France be
NOV. where would Belgium be. and
what would happen to Roumania
L
Switzerland and Holland II they had
, no preparation for war. Switzer.
land, Holland and Roumania, right
in the war zone, have been able to
maintain their neutrality because ii
is dangerous for any Of the war
1 q . III ~.
crazed nations to attack them. Were
they helpess they would have to pay
1.-The penalty with blood and treasure
Russia wanted to overrun R0umania
land Germany wanted to overrun
i Holland. but those great nations did
not dare take on more enemies that
were prepared to fight.
1t may be that the Iowa cavalry
will have to ride into Mexico on
lShank's horses, as there seems to be
la dearth of the other kind in the
country.
i Fifteen hundred Sioux Indians are
ready to respond to military duty in