The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-25

US, nave, tnaJ ne nad mace no ellOTl
to find out what our duty was or to
live up to it, and that he neither knew
nor cared anything about our fright
full military unpreparedness.
1 then became convinced that to
trust the president longer was to be
false to the honor and interest of the
United States; and that to stand by
him. was to back away from the per-
Torrance of national and information
al duty.
From that moment, eighteen
months ago, 1 spoke out with all the
emphasis there was in me, both as re-
CARDS the great war, and as regards
Mexico. 1 committed no error in
speaking out, no error in any state
ment have made calling attention to
the presidents dreadful failure to
do his duty to and by the American
people. If 1 committed any error at
all it was because of the effort in
good faith to support the president
regarding Mexico, and regarding Bel
GUM longer than he was entitled to
support-nor do 1 regret such error,
for 1 was determined to err, if at all,
by standing by him as long as there
was the remotest chance that his pol
icy 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:
Our failure in preparedness.
Our failure to protect the lives
and property of our own citizens on
the high seas, in foreign countries,
and within our own limits.
3-Our failure to do our duty in
Mexico.
4-Our failure to do our duty in Bel
GUM.
AS regards preparedness-alt
three years have elapsed since Mr.
Wilson became president; although
months have elapsed since the cata-
clysm of the World War showed the
infinite folly and wickedness of not
making ready and being ready to pro-
tect ourselves-not one thing has yet
been done.
The president, after all this time,
still entrusts the war and navy depart
ments to anna BILE gentlemen who know
nothing whatever of either the army
or navy, who take no interest what
ever in their real efficiency; and Meth
err he nor they have given the slight
est sign that they appreciate the ter
rible gravity of the international sit
uation which, thanks largely to our
own supineness, has been permitted to
develop with such ominous rapidly
during the last two years
We are no stronger by a gun or a
man than 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 1.-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 erri-
cheney of the army, and INSTRUCTOR or
all schemes for adequate national de-
Tense. 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.
From the standpoint of adequate pre-
Daredness, of adequate preparation for
the duty of national defense, and the
performance of international duty,
thew will leave the situation so little
changed as to be practically of no
consequence.
When there is urgent and mediate
need for a bridge across river. II is
lust as futile to build a bridge one
tenth of the way over as not to oullo
at all.
We. as a nation, have come terri
bly short during the past year or two
in the performance of our duty. 1
do not wish to excuse us as people:
But by far the heaviest burden of
responsibility 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 opportuni-
ty to prepare, this nation, the wealth
lest in the world, with 100000
people has met the utmost difficulty
in scraping together 1000 or 5000
soldiers to go to Mexico, while it is
announced from Washington that
sending these 1000 or 5000 men has
exposed to danger the rest of the
border. President Wilson himself says
that he has mot troops enough to
protect the border from bandits.
Our few aeroplanes, when tried, broke
down and failed. just as had prev
iously been the case with our subma-
rines. This is not the fault of the
officers of the Army and Navy OF the
United States-no finer men exist
1t is the fault of President Wilson and
his supporters in Congress, and 1t is
a punishment upon us, the American
people, for what these representatives
Of the American people have done
land have left undone, during the past
three years.
AS regard Mexico and the Presi-
dents derelictions of duty there
they have been so numerous and In
volved that the only difficulty is tC
| choose which incidents to mention.
On August 81, 1918. he announced
to Congress that he would forbid the
| expectation of arms and munitions OF
war of any kind from the United
| States to any part of Mexico.
On February 2, 1914, he announced
that the embargo was to be lifted
because conditions have essentially
| changed" The result was that huge
arms and ammunition crossed the
| border to all contending factions
who have all used them to kill oul
people and their own innocent fellow
/ countrymen.
On April 23rd he ordered the en-
/ barge on arms restored.
On May 18th he again lifted the
embargo so far as it applied to ship
ments to Tampico.
On May 9th the cargo of arms
which was not allowed to be landed
at Vera Cruz, and which was the
| immediate excuse for Selling Vera
Cruz, was allowed to be landed. to.
gether with another cargo, at Puer.
4 70