The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1916-01-08

Now the President of the United
States is the only person in all the
world whom the tide OF events has
placed in this position. There is here
no suggestion whatever of force, but
merely that information be requested
which may aid the President in deter
mining his policy concerning acts Of
the countries to whom the request is
addressed. The fact that such infor-
nation afforded to the President
would make clear the real objects of
this war in terms that can be under
stood by everyone, and that with such
light to inform them the moral forces
of civilization will be enabled to effect
peace, cannot be valid objection to-
asking for it, but furnishes additional
reasons why it should be most siren
uously sought. One thing is perfect
ly certain: civilization will not en-
force peace on any conditions except
those of justice. And peace estab-
lished on justice will lead to reconcile
alton, permanent and complete, of all
these warning countries.
But it may be asked, even if such
action by the President should result
in peace would not these warning ma
tions at once begin extensive prepara-
tions for renewal of the conflict on a
scale commensurate with the require.
m fc 0f modern on6 would
these impoverish the world almost as
grievously as waging war itself? Here
! again l answer, Providence has placed
in the hands of the President power
not merely to effect restoration Of
peace but to secure general disarma-
ment, and that too without assuming
an attitude of hostility to other pow
ers, or attempting to assert authority
or control over any of them. And the
! measures he has already announced
his determination to recommend are
precisely those which, if adopted, must,
| in my judgment, lead inevitably to
general disarmament.
After this war it is hardly possible
that any of the countries engaged in
it will be in position to maintain q
huge armament and at the same time
leave anything like sufficient means
of subsistence to its population. Ger
tainly none will be eager to undertake
such burden unless in the hope of
making itself first among the armed
| nations of the world. But such a pri-
macy in military establishments this
!! country can prevent any other country
from securing by the simple course Of
establishing ourselves the strongest
armament of all.
Without undertaking to discuss here
or to anticipate any of the proposals
for preparedness which the President
will submit to Congress next week,
this much is perfectly obvious: if at
the end Of this war other leading ma
lions continue to arm then we must
arm too. And in that event we must
outarm the strongest of them. One
conclusion is inevitable from the re-
cent experience of the world. No
country can afford to remain unarmed
when all around it other countries are
steadily, and indeed feverishly, prose-
cutting preparations for war. 1t is be-
lieved by good many that one or
more of the great nations brought to
the verge of bankruptcy by this war
might be tempted by the extent of
our possessions and the vast wealth
of our population to attack this coun-
try in the hope of exacting a huge in
demnity from us. l do not think this
at all probable. Indeed, l think it
most unlikely that after the expert
ence of the last sixteen months any
nation could still harbor the delusion
that there can be any profit in war,
no matter how successfully it may be
waged. Nevertheless such an attack
is not any more unlikely than the
breaking out Of the war now raging
was eighteen months ago. Prepared
ness, l believe, means that we must
! be prepared at all times to meet any
eventuality. So long as we have the
largest possessions to tempt attack
we must maintain the largest arma-
ments to defend them, both by land
and sea. If our security is to depend
on force we cannot trust to the benev-
olence or friendship or forbearance Of
any other nation. We must depend
on ourselves alone and on the armed
might we can establish
But if all nations will consent to
forego these extensive military estab-
lishments, then we would gladly lead
the world in disarmament. With re-
spect to ornaments, believe our po-
sition will prove ultimately to be this:
we stand ready to offer all nations
perfect equality with us, but it must.
be an equality of disarmament. If an
armed world is to emerge from the
war, then we will be first in arma-
ments as BELTS our position among ma
tons. And this position all nations
know we have the power to take and
maintain
| Now l believe there is no country,
however warlike it's disposition, which
J i