The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1916-04-04
r"H WORDS OF WASHINGTON

.oOplc AID those optimistic Amert-
cans who blindly condde in mere
a,Gless and numbers contend that
they arc supported by American ira
d.tions and time honored policies in
their opposition to such plans for
national defense as have been pro
posed. Yet George Washington. in
whom are centered the most hallow-
ed of American traditions, can be
quoted again and again to their con-
fusion. Many of Washington's pub
lie utterances, as matter of fact,
referred to this very subject of ma
tional defense or adequate prepared
ness.
On January 8, 1890. for example
that ito be prepared for war is one
of the most effectual means of pre-
serving peace" adding: "a free peo-
pie ought not only to be armed, but
disciplined; to which end a uni
form and well digested plan is reuui-
site; and their safety and interest
require that they should promote
such manufactures as tend to rem
der them Independent OF others for
essential, particularly military sup
plies" Thus he recognized the ne
cessity not only of military training
but of complete equipment for the
production of arms at need. Nor did
he suppose, as many have in later
times, that our splendid isolation"
geographically would OF itself be
likely to save us from war with for
eign powers, for on December 3.
1898, while urging "a condition of
complete defense he warned the
United States mot to indulge per-
suation that, contrary to the order
of human events, they will forever
keep at distance those painful ap-
peals to arms with which the his
tory of every other nation abounds."
In the course OF the same state
paper he made it clear that wbrse
fate may befall nation than to be-
come involved in a serious war. and
that there are precious possessions
more to be priced than even peoce
saving: There is rank due to the
United States among nations which
will be withheld, if not absolutely
lost. by the reputation of weakness
II we desire TO avoid insult, we must
he able to rcpel 1t; if we desire 10
secure peace. IL must be known q,
all times that we are ready for war "
ON December Z. 1896. he warned
the American public that often war
may not depend on a peoples choice
nut may be forced by aggression
and declared that however pacific
the general policy of a nation NAV
be, II ought never to be without an
adequate stock of military knowl-
edge for emergencies.
He seemed to foresee conditions
not unlike certain phases Of tbo
present situation when he added
ITO an active external commerce
the protection Of a naval force is in.
diSpensable. This is manifest with
regard TO wars in which state 20
ltseif party But besides this II is
our own experience that the most
sincere neutrality is not sufficient
guard against the dcpredations of
organized and ready to vindicate -
from insult or aggression. This may
even prevent the necessity OF eojny
10 war by discouraging belieerant
powers from committing such v,o-
lations OF the rights Of the neptra,
party as may, first or last. leave no
other option"
10 oil this the opponents of ade-
duate preparedness would prohab,v
answer that in Washington's time
thls country was small and waoL
"hile now II is mighty not only IN
area and numbers but in wealth and
resources of every kind. But ~
washington We're among us TODAY
ne would no doubt remind tber,
that undeveloped resources are III
Tie better than no resources in an
emergency. and that mere numbers
can be dispersed by efficiency based
upon training and discipline es
readily as char is sent in HELPLESS
'l'ght before a wind storm.-valdos- /
Ia Times.