Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1916-01-21

conditions likely to confront the I'm
tied States at the conclusion of the
great conflict now in progress in Eu-
rope. and il will be of benefit to the
average reader to peruse carefully
what this eminent reasoner has to
say ca the subject:
Il believe that the American peo-
pie cannot be too prepared to defend
their rights, their country and their
institution. If there is anything on
earth more worth defending, l can't
imagine what it is.
From whatever point of view our
country is considered, the justiiica-
ton of a resolute policy of prepared
ness. for war in case Of necessity, and
Tor effective defense at all times, as
serts itself unanswerably.
But the question is not merely
one of war of OF national defense.
Our policy in these matters must
necessarily be subordinate to and in
volved in our attitude toward the
paramount and fundamental problem
OF national destiny.
at the termination of this war
the situation in this respect will be
most acute. Events over which Eu-
ropean nations now have no control
have made the United States for the
first time in its history a creditor ma
tion. We are now not only free
from the crushing debt to Europe,
but are actually the financial center
of the world. The loss of this posi-
ton would cost much more than the
advance by which it was gained and
would profit the nations OF Europe
without destruction, and Japan also,
more than any other conceivable
thing.
Not only will they attempt to
make the United States the dumping
ground of their products; they will
raise tariff barriers high enough, if
possible, to exclude all our products.
Our right, furthermore, to free in
tercourse and direct relations with
smaller nations is sure to be involv-
ed, not only in the arrangements of
the warning powers for peace, but in
their economic necessities and pur-
poses after the war.
I'VE shall no longer have free en-
trance to the great open British mar
ket or easy entrance to any market.
Nor shall we be able to rely, as here
tOfOTe, on the naval supremacy of
Great Britain, soon to be our eco
nomie rival. If, moreover, we con-
tInue to allow that solid bulwark of
financial strength, the international
coin called freight money. to be
drained from us by another nations
merchant marine, we shall feel the
subsection, financial, economic, mar
atime, mercantile and otherwise
that results after such process
more acutely than ever before.
The policy of comm ercial reci.
proeity will not afford complete re,
lief. That policy is not now to be re'
garded so much as an advantage t.
us as an absolute necessity. We mus
not only fight to retain our grea
home market, but we must compe
markets everywhere by such means
rs We possess. And we must be in ;
position TO protect those markets a
all times. China has had our protec
tion heretofore. We were able L
give it and maintain the 'opeI
door policy merely because our pre-
paredness was of the kind needle,
for the situation. Central American
and South American countries hav
the right to our protection, and ar
l.kely TO need it. On our souther
Border is the richest field Tor Euro
poan exploitation now open to tn
world. If we do not uphold the Mon
roe Doctrine everywhere we sha
forfeit the respect Of other nations
and. with that lacking their solic
tegrity but for national existence il
self will disappear.
We Need Large Mobile Army
For Defense.
''NOw, l am not an extremist an
I do not believe either in a mad c,
reeU OF naval construction or in sa,
ding upon the country a large stant
ing army. The United States is
democracy and must remain and col
duet itself as a republic should. nj
tiOnal preparedness is a popular po
icy; 1t is in a sense merely nationt
Insurance, and, as such, concerns a
alike. The advocates of peace at an
price lose sight Of that fact, The
apparently are willing to agree
any price so long as no part of I'll
price be paid in advance. l belieN
that our desire should be, so far {
nogcfkIo IN now ~ oil In advanpa