The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-07-05
WEDNESDAY. JULY 5. 1915.
TIE PREPAREDNESS PROGRAM.


No one could have witnessed the pre-
paredness parade of yesterday, with It's
thousands of men and of women, its bright
faced girls, its sturdy boys, all moved by
one great motive power-loyalty to the
fao9without feeling within the soul
deeper conservation to the country OF D1rtn
or adoption.
But as one stood and looked upon those
marching thousands, they seemed to repre-
sent more than conservation to an ideal
they presented possibility SO terrible as
to bring to the soul sense of horror, Vnen
the realization was brought home that TINS
was not all pageantry-that these men ana
these women and these children, publicly
giving their endorsement to the prepared
ness program of President Wilson, were
not moving forward, with head held hlgh
and flags flying to celebrate victory, Dut
to give their pledge to stand by that nag,
should the hour strike for this country to
enter war, and to 'subscribe themselves as
unalterably in favor of greater defense tor
this country, which for the past two years
has been drawn so close to the edge OF
battle
The splendid spirit that was demon
parade IS II tbs Rfsat IS fs
spirit which warmed the breasts Of the
freezing soldiers at Valley Forge, -wrisiiei.
stirred the hearts of men at Gettysburg
and sent their names ringing down the
ages as the bravest soldiers the world hac
ever known. 1t is that spirit of Our fore
fathers, which has never known dishonor
and that will burn within their posterity
as long as life shall last
No American could look upon that
moving band of marchers without the
heart beating with sense of pride and the
soul being moved to patriotism. But with
this feeling of loyalty and love of country
there is mingled sense of bitterness that
our country should be imperiled as it is
today, and standing in need of these forces
unframed and unequipped, should they be
called upon to fill the breach made possible
by the very men who should have seen tc
this country's protection.
The Journal, for the past two years
along with number of other far-sighted
publications of this country, preached the
gospel of preparedness. For years the
heads of the army and the navy, through
the columns of the Army and Navy
Journal, and other public mediums, have
pointed out the lack of preparation, in the
event that this country was drawn into
war. But in spite of this, in the face Of
warning, of pleading from the President
of the United States, and other leaders
congress has steadily persisted in pursuing
the non-preparedness program until wars
hot breath has scorched and walked them
to the fact that war is not vague and re
mote possibility, but near and terrible ant
menacing.
It was splendid spirit that was evi
denced yesterday in Pensacola The mer
and the women who marched in the great
preparedness parade are made of the stuff
of which the flag was born-love and 10y
atty to home and to duty
But when one looked upon those
marching thousands and realized, because
OF the stupidity and cupidity of men who
should have known better-because it was
their business to know better than to allow
this country to be placed in jeopardy while
all the rest of the world was preparing tc
defend its own-the heart beat with some
thing more than love of country. and a
flame of indignation stirred the soul for the
men who have been called upon to give Ut
all the ties that have bound them to home
and to go out, unframed and uneauippec
for the battle, and take the places of. The
trained soldiers that this government
should have maintained.