Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-04-28

calling attention to the Presidents
dreadful failure to do his duty to and
blythe American people. If ] commit
ted any error at all, it was because of
the effort in good faith to support the
President regarding Mexico and re-
Sarding Belgium longer than he was
entitled to support-nor do l regret
such error, for l was determined to
err, If al ALL by standing by him too
long, rather than by not standing by
him as long as there was the remotest
chance that his policy was grounded
on right and was in the public interest.
The most fragrant of our national
derelictions from duty during the last
three years have been in their order:
First. Our failure in preparedness.
Second. Our failure to protect the
lives and property of our own citizens
on the high seas. in foreign countries
and within our own limits.
Third. Our failure to do our duty
in Mexico.
Fourth. Our failure to do our duty
in Belgium.
AS regards preparedness - al
though three years have elapsed since
Mr.. Wilson became President al
though 20 months have elapsed since
the cataclsym of the World War show
ed the infinite folly and wickedness of
not making ready and being ready to
protect ourselves-not one thing has
yet been done.
The President, after all this time,
still intrusts the war and navy depart
ments to amiable gentlemen who know
nothing whatever of either the army
or navy, who take no interest what
ever in their real efficiency; and neith-
er he nor they have given the slight
est sign that they appreciate the ter
rlble gravity OF the international sit
uation, which, thanks largely to our
own supineness, has been permitted to
develop with such ominous rapidity
during the last two years.
No Stronger Than Before War
We are no stronger by a gun or
man that we were at the outbreak of
the great war. Relatively, to the rest
of the world, our navy has gone rapid
ly and steadily back during these last
three years, and our army likewise.
In Congress the welfare of the army
has been entrusted to Mr.. Hay who is
probably, of all the men in both
Houses, the most intelligent, Jealous
and persistent opponent of the Off
cheney of the army, and obstructor of
all schemes for adequate national de-
fense. The President has cordially
backed Mr.. Hay. The bills introduced
into Congress, If enacted into law, will
in no shape or way meet the situation.
y rom the STANDPOINT OF adequate pre-
paredness, of adequate preparation
for the duty of national defense, and
the performance of international duty.
they will leave the situation so little
changed as to be practically of con-
sequence.
when there is urgent and imme-
date need for a bridge across a river.
it is JUS as futile to build a bridge
one-tenth of the way over as not to-
build at all.
I'VE, as a nation, have come terribly
short during the past year or two in
the performance of our duty do not
wish to excuse us as a people. But
by far the heaviest burden of RESPONSE
bility rests upon the titular and official
leader of the nation.
Twenty months after the great war
began, although we have had such
ample warning. and ample opportun-
ity to prepare. this nation, the wealth.
lest in the world, with 100 100000 peo-
pie. has met the utmost difficulty in
scraping together 1000 or 5000 SOL
diers to go to Mexico, while it is an
nounced from Washington that send
ing these 1000 or 5000 men has eX-
posed TO danger the rest of the bor-
der. President Wilson himself says
that he has not troops enough TO pro-
tect the border from bandits Our
few aeroplanes. when tried. broke
down and failed, just as had previously
been the case with our submarines.
This is not the fault of the officers of
the army and navy of the United
States-no finer meh exist It is the
| fault OF President Wilson and his sup