The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-02-03
WAR AT ONCE

IL Ueu. WOOu Is TlSnt, IL MI ROooo-
welt is right, IL the men who are de-
handing a navq bigger than that of
England and an army greater than
that of Germany are right, the thing
for US to do is at once to declare war
upon Germany. Their program of de-
Tense is based upon the assumption
that as soon as Germany is free from
entangling engagements in Europe she
will pounce down upon our American
coast, destroy our cities, call for a
slice of our territory and for an in
demnity to enable her to carry her
tremendous war debt.
We believe nothing of the kind We
think this is nightmare of men who
professionally are constantly engaged
in the consideration of war problems.
But if their deductions are right, if
as soon as the war is over we are to
face either a beaten or triumphant
Germany, the part of wisdom, the part
of military sagacity, the part of state.
craft is to take time by the forelock
and strike Germany today, when she
is at disadvantage
These war lords tell us that Ger
many's army is such a marvel and
her navy SO irresistible, that if she
we're free she would be unconquera-
BILE.
1t is the part of safety, therefore,
for us to see that she is never free.
For our own protection we ought to
use our present advantages and not
wait through series of years of pre-
paration to bring about position in
which we will some time in the future
have like advantage. We cannot
have any such advantage as now
exists.
England, no doubt, made a mistake
not striking the German navy eight
or ten years ago. 1t is too much to
say that she ought to have joined
France in 1870, as a matter of pre-.
caution, leaving morals out of view,
because French military monarchy
is as great menace to England as
that of Germany. But, looking back,
we can see that England has been
over-patient, and that she surrendered
one point of vantage after another
rather than fight.
, We do not believe there is any such
natural antagonism between the Ger.
man Empire and the American Repub-
Die. Their conflict is one Of systems,
zone of temperament. one of inheri.
Nance, and we believe that in the great
orena fire institutions will triumph
lover military. medieval monarchy.
But that is not the theory of Mr..
/ Roosevelt or Gen. Wod and their fol.
lowers. They see in the future a
mighty war; great conflict between
Germany, armed and ready for war in
any part Of the globe.
Now, if that conviction widely pre-.
walls. the solution is in an immediate
attack upon our possible enemy. We
have had provocation; that is, he have
had what in the court of nations would
be considered justification, in the
Lusitania, in the conspiracies Matched
under the protection of the agents OF
the Berlin authorities here in Ameri
ca, in the treason against American
institutions cultivated by foreign
agents.
Patience and faith in theultimate
triumph of reason and righteousness
have had provocation; that is, we have
ment and the American people to
practice system Of restraint which
time, in our judgment. will fully jus
tify.
But we insist that the critics Of
We Administration, the war lords, as
distinct from the peace LADDERS, who
follow President Wilson, shall carry
their own arguments to conclusion
,Snd submit program that will max,
war effective.
These gentlemen will not have the
rourage of their opinion. They will
criticise but they will not develop 6
war policy than can possibly prove ef
fective.
Tne preparation for war is a.
costly, often, as war itself. Ten year,
OF preparation would cost us ia
more at the end of war ten year