La Junta tribune., 1916-02-12
RoosEvEIr ON rREPAREDxEss.

ROOsEvELr ON PREPAREDNESS.
Preparedness Is not something
new under the sun with Theodore
Roosevelt. as Il Is with woodrow
Wilson. Roosevelt was preaching
preparedness long before he was
president Of the United States, and
this is probably responsible for the
opinion held BY some people that he
would plunge this country into war II
he vas In position TO do no. Roose-
Welt abhors war Just ~ any sane man
should. but he believes In standing
up for America and Americans, first,
last and all the time. and the people
OF this country. and other countries
~ we'll. know that Il would not be
with an endless array OF fine phrase
ology. They know that he would
back up his words with deeds, and
many battle is more than half won
\ BY putting up bold front.
/ Some excerpts from m address
entitled. Warrington Forgotten
Maxim" delivered by Roosevelt in
June. 1897, before the Naval War
College. while assistant secretary OF
the navy. are IS follows:
A century has passed since WASH
ington wrote Ito be prepared for
war Is the most effectual means to
promote peace" We pay to this max
i'm the lip loyalty we 50 often pay to
Washington's words: but It has new
er sunk deep into our hearts. In
deed OF late years many persons have
refused II even the poor tribute OF
lip loyalty. and prate about the in
tQufty OF war as II somehow that was
= justification for refusing to take
the steps that are necessary to avert
the dreadful disasters II brings In
its train.
In this country there il not the
slightest danger Of an Overt develop
ment OF warlike spirit. and there
never has been any such danger. In
all our history there has never been
time when preparedness for war
was any menace to peace.
II We forget that In the last re-
| sort we can only secure peace by be-
Ing ready and willing to fight for Il.
We may some day have bitter cause
TO realize that rich nation which is
siothful. ttmid. or unwieldy is an
easy prey for any people which still
retains those most valuable OF all
qualities. the soldieriy virtues. =
Preparation for war Is the surest
guaranty for peace. Arbitration Is
an excellent thing. but ultimately
| those who wish to see this country
at peace with foreign nations will be
wise II they place their reliance up-
on = Hrst-class fleet OF first-class bat.
! tleships rather than on any arbitrs.
ton treaty which the wit OF man can
devise. Nelson said that the British
fleet was the best negotiator in Eu.
rope. and there WAS much truth In
the saying. Moreover. while we are
sincere and earnest In our advocacy
OF peace. We must not forget that an
ignoble peace II worse than war.
| u r. not only true that q pcsce
may be 70 ignoble and degrsdine -
feO - worDe than any war; u 10 aIsc
true that Il may b fraught with
more bloodshed than most wars. Nu
war Of recent years. NO matter how
wantoa. has been 10 productive oi
horrible misery - the peace which
the powers have maintained durina
the continuance Of the Armenian
butcheries. The men who would
preach this peace. and Indeed the
men who have preached uuivcrsaI
peace In terms that have prepared
the way for such peace - this, have
Inflicted wrong ON humanity great.
er than could b. inflicted BY the most
reckless and war.loving despot,
-
Unreadiness for war h merely rem.
dered more disastrous BY readinesa
TO bluster: 70 talk desiance and sd.
vocate . vigorous policy In words
while refusing 10 hack ID thess
words With deeds. 10 cause for hu.
initiation. Il has always besn true
and 10 this age Il IL more than eveJ
erue. that II II too late 10 prepare eol
war when the time for peace has
passsd.
10 In the flrst decade Of the pres.
ent century the Americas people and
the1f rulefs had possessed the Wis.
don % provide an ssficisnt fleet ol
powerful oattleshlps there would
probably have been no war Of 1917:
asd svea u war had come. the I'm.
Dsess loss 70. and destruction ol
trade sad commerce b. the blockade
would have bsea prsvsatsd. Merely
srom the monetary standpoint the
savioe would have beeu l1ealcusbje:
and yet thin vou1A havs heoo an
smallest part Of the gaia.
H. public % 10 private ilfe. . bold
froet tea6s 70 lusure peacs and so(
sesSSe. 1f we poseess . formidable
navy. small 10 the chaace lndeed thai
we shall ever ~ draeged lnto war q
uohoae tAe Aoares doctslne. u we
90 eoe oeeseee sueA . 0avy. war nay
- serce1 upoa - q any tine.
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