The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-20


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convince the free silver pcoplc that
we were to have the unlimited coinag
OF silver. and would convince the other
people that We were not TO have IL,
I'm any serious crisis there are al
ways men who try to carry water on
both shoulders. These men try 10 cs-
rape the hard necessity OF choice be-
tween " necessarily opposite alter
natives by trying to work up some
compromise. In actual practice this
compromise usually proves to com
bine with exquisite nicely all the de-
fects and none Of the advantages OF
both courses.
ut IL true hat in ordinary political
matters compromise IL essential. II IL
true that In ordinary times IL IL esscn-
tial. hut there come great crises when
compromise Is either impossible or
tatal. This Is one Of those crises.
There ~ no use In saying that we
VIII ht ourselves TO defend ourselves
a little, but not much. Such "A posi-
ton is equivalent to announcing that,
II necessary. We shall hit. but that We
shall only hit soft. The only right
principle Is to prepare thoroughly or
not at all. The only right principle is
to avoid hitting II 1t is possible to do
so. but v under any circumstances
to hit soft.
TO go to war a little. but not much.
is the n absolutely certain way to
insure disaster. To prepare n little
but not much. stands on "a par with a
city developing a Hr. department
which. after a fire occurs can put Il
out a little. but not much.
o Per Cent. F~eebIeness.
THE Administration at Washington.
backed by the majority OF Congress,
has taken 10 step for preparedness,
and has done nothing efficient to sus-
tain our national rights. 1t has stood
for applied pacifsm. as far IS deeds are
concerned. But because, although It
has not acted. II has at intervals VEN
tured feebly to speak in contradiction
OF Its ~nOn-action, the ultra-pac!fists
and their allies have refused II any
whole hearted support.
They object ever to make believe
preparedness. They insist on e
more thorough going helplessness than
that which VIC had so amply provided
a: Washington. Although our govern
mental representatives have been ~;
per cent. feeble, the ultra-pacifists have
demanded a clear 100 per cent. of
futility and f%eebleness and have o n
Quoted their campaigns under various
banners TO achieve this purpose.
The Old Whis Party.
THE old Wing party was beaten by
ai- 49, E,.1t,.
went out OF existence. because it en-
deavored to be both for slavery and
against Il. and not too much OF either.
The party thai won was the party
that dared fcarlpssly to say that II
was against slavery and for the Union,
and that stood aggressivcly by its
principles. The party that has full
confidence in its " policies n a
conceded purpose To put these policies
into effect will sooner or later get the
people to back it-provid"d the poll
Gle are sound.
There are at this time two great
issues before us both insr,arahiy
bound together. They arc tho issues
OF Americanism and preparedness.
As q people Wv have tn decide
whether we are to hc in good faith 4
people and able and ready Ia take care
~ ourselves. or whether We doubt ou'
national unity and fear to prepare an,
intend instead To trust partly to
merciful Providence and partly TO elo'
c%ut!onary ability in high places. Those
in power at Washington have takci
the latter position.
I'VE must make this nation as
strong as are its convictions in refer
ence to right and wrong. II little
matters what our ideals may be and
what achievements We may hope for
II these ideals and achievements can
not he reduced to action. The events
of the past, and the events of to-day
show tina national ideas amount t'
nothing II the nation lacks the power
to maintain them against opposition.
'Mr. Ford's supporters In the pri
uaries seemingly come chiefly from
three classes--the work!ngmen. who be
lieye that he represents the desire Il
do Justice to them the paciists. VIII
think that a policy Of helplessness In th'
face Of other nations will insure gu
national safety. and the German Amer
) cans. some OF them in an honest an'
{ sincere mood OF protest. and the other
under the influence OF that portion o
the professional German Americans wh'
have permitted their devotion to German,
finally to make them a~ntagonistic to tn
, welfare Of the United States.
"As for the wage workers who su,
port Mr.. Ford. I understand %entirel
their desire to support any man who.
I their belief, stands for a more substan
: tial measure OF social and industria
Justice. but I wish. with all the en-
r phasis in my power, to call their a,
$ IGNITION TO the fact that In order 10
n us TO work within our own borders 10
! social and Industrial justice II Is neces
sary TO secure to ourselves the powe
Z 10 determine these questions Tor our
selves. ,
n III a nation canno DEFEND itsei
then we may rest assured that soone
@ or later some stronge outside fowt
r will impose an alien will upon 1t an
y will deprive 1t OF the say as to ho'
IL will determine its " destinies.
G The Case Of BelGium.
$ .It is not OF the slightest cons'
;, ouence at this moment what the bus
ness men or the wage workers or IL
farmers OF Belgium think should !
done in the way Of industrial and agr
cultural development and justice, b.
cause they have TO do Whatever u
Germans tell them to do and they wor