New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-12
ARMED DINOSAURS
Anti-Preparedness Arguments a Fine tx
ample of Loose Thinking.
the Editor of The Tribune.

T the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The undergraduates campalgners
have wheeled through the streets moael
Of a dinosaur bearing the inscription: "lnis
j.. lingo the armored dinosaur-all srmor
plate and 10 brains. This animal oeheVed IN
huge ornaments. He Is now extinct
Americans relish wit and will even so Tar
in condoning travesty OF serious matter
or nerversion of fact By implication or par
tial statement Il only a good laugh can De
had The dinosaur is a cute conception aho
nigh. even pass for Clever Il serves al
tho same time the most excellent illustration
Of loose thinking the kind of loose thinking
n which our anti.preparedness friends seem
addicted They erect the dlnosaur as INC
TYNE. and from their exalted outlook they
tell US with supreme assurance that TINS
dinosaur has now become extinct.
We are practically told we have misread
the public press and the current cables that
have now for nearly two years set forth the
story from day TO day Of the Prussian Frank
enstein, Of his blood and iron, his "schrech-
lichkeit," his killing OF women and children
and old men. his violation Of sacred pledges.
in law as against the rule Of force, his atayis-
tic reversion 70 the age OF the brute, his u
and "mine" that could neither brook nor
know any thee" or thine" in thought or
thing or desire, in faith or taste; whose au-
dacious egosm would invoke high heaven IN
its insane marauding. Having thus chosen
their own premise by ignoring the very pat
cnt fact Of "schrechlichkeit' in Belgium in
Armenia end in the Balkans, they then pro
coed TO deduce the conclusion that It IS folly
TO become a dinosaur when all the other
dinosaurs have become extinct.
A second fallacy lies in the assumption that
if we set out to protect ourselves from other
di osaurs we must lose our brain power and
spiritual quality in the mere act OF self-de-
fence The pity is that they have an audi
ence that will waste time upon their propa
ganda In these days We are all shocked into
thinking mere or less. Let us hope that the
American people will wake from their leth
argy OF self-complacency before Il is too late
I'm one fair form after another has come
before us the appeal with its carefully yelled
intent lsboriously wrought out 10 catch the
American mind unaware. the appeal 10 a very
proper love Of peace, OF fair play and 70 every
righteous instinct Of right minded people.
But the appeal ia always 20 the sure and un
yelling single cnd OF 'U' VI INV
Prussian dynasty that rules by RICH. Of God
Almighty. which right therefore no human
mind may question. And this the American
Peace Society. the labor councils and the
campaigns are made 70
serve.
No true American wants frussian militar-
!, but he does want an alert and virile
American spirit. faithful TO all its carly
aspiration. Of free people. quick and sure
in its determinations and definite in its pur-
poses: he wants this spirit forefended from
within b. constantly nov accesscs Of the
spirit and forefended from without By all the
machinery Of a strong democratic state. IN
GLIDING a citizenry trained and adequately
equipped in the emergency OF war. Let the
tri1crs who would carry the campaign OF
anti-preparedness 70 the edge OF treason
think little solemnly OF their recklessness.
Let them FIRST abolish the policemen on their
home beats; let them break the locks from
their doors and tho bolts from their gates.
For an anti-preparcdness campaign which
ignores tho existence Of force should begin
at tho hearthstonc. J. SHIRLEY EATON.
New York. April >. 1916.