The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1916-03-10
COMMUNITY MEETING.
Preparedness and afilitarism Dis
cussed At Meeting.

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Sunday afternoon, with no set pro-
gram but open to all for the discus
sion Of Preparedness and Militar-
ISM" was well attended and was
representative of the interests in our
neighborhood. Passages from the
Bible were read which gave the
spirit of Christ's teachings-loye
and peace-which but emphasized
what has been taught in our
churches; why should we fear to
trust to those teachings when trial
comes? If we believe we can lay
aside Christ's teachings, for time,
as it pleases us then we have failed
to understand Christ's mission on
earth.
Much is said about patriotism. 1t
is a high sounding word. We all
want to claim it but few realize it's
full meaning Patriotism consists
in working for the welfare and
happiness of the greatest number.
The happiness of the greatest num-
Der is surely not in the minds OF
the rulers in Europe today. Those
poor, common people driven to
fright for they know not what, how
many thousands of their wives,
mothers, sisters and children are
left wretched and helpless today
Patriotism was not IN the minds of
those munition makers, who are
clamoring for patriotism, when they
raised the price Of war munitions
during the Spanish war, when their
government was dependent on them.
Patriotism consists IN striving to
make our country better place in
which to live. II we work to i'm
prove the Conditions under which
men and women live and labor we
shall be serving our country better
than by killing people.
We prepare against any calamity
as long as we can do so without dis
for war we prepare to disobey law.
If it is unlawful to kill one man
what makes it right to kill by the
hundreds, even thousands?
Granted we need police force
(which we have) but it is not the
duty of the policemen to kill men.
1t is to take offenders against the
law before a court OF justice where
they are tried and punishment de-,
termined. It would be Just as easy
to have such an fnter-Nationai
Court where offending nations would
be tried and punishment determined
without war. War is a remnant OF
barbarism.
We had our attention called to
the fact that at the hearing Of the
Naval Committee at the last session
of Congress one year ago Richard
Pearson Hobson, who is better
known for his advocacy Of a large
army and navy than Tor any service
rendered his country, Admiral
Fletcher, the highest active officer in
our navy, commander of the Atlantic
Fleet and other naval experts all
declared we do not need or desire
a navy as strong as that of Great
Britain owing to our geographical
location. Also Admiral Fletcher as
well as many others said that we
have navy superior to that of Ger
many or any other nation except
Great Britain. At the hearing in
the last session of Congress General
Weaver, Chief of Coast Artillery
whose duty it is to be advised as to
the character and suficiency of our
Sea Coast Armament stated: my in
formation is that our system of
fertilization is reasonably adequate
for all defensive purposes which
they are likely to be called upon
to meet" and further said, 81 have
been close student OF the whole
subject, naturally, for a number of
years and know of no Notifications
in the world, as far as my reading
observations and knowledge. go,
that compare favorably in efficiency
with ours" What then is back of
this craze for a bigger army and
navy? Money! The immense profits
that the few men get for supplying
the government with war material,
at the expense of the masses. No,
the poor man does not get any OF
these profits. The cost of living is
increased by the heavy burden of
war preparation SO the heavy load
comes on the poor man.
Why should we not do all in our
power befo&e it is too late to prevent
such calamity Detailing us as has
befallen the countries of Europe, all
of which is due to each nations
faith in its own preparedness-else
the difference would have been
settled at the Hague Tribunal.
Justice, fair dealing, mutual faith
between nations, insures peace
Fear begets war. But let fear get
start it spreads like wild fire.