The Detroit times., 1916-05-19
Warns Against
Belgium's Fate

n nation cannot defend ITSELF.
then we may rest assured that
sooner or later some stronger OUT
side power will impose an allen VIII
upon IL and viii deprive 70 Or the
say as 20 how II viii determine It's
own destinies | believe that the
Japanese have done well in Korea.
know that the German INVASION mas
wrought incredible woe IN Eslg um,
But I am mot. al the moment. Son'
cernsd with either fact am con-
eerned only with the TACT that De
cause Korea did not prepare Itself
in advance for defense 10 Is now Ar
solutely under the dominion OF Japan
and that largely FOR tho same reason
Belgium is now under the absolute
control Of the Germans wish the
wage workers and the farmers. even
more than the business men 81 tins
Country. 10 realize that ~ we tread
the steps OF Re.gium and Korea IA
paclhsm and unprcparedncss. sooner
or later the Germans or the japanese
or some Other men OF virile race VIII
wholly or partially control our des-
TIMES and deprive VS. OF the right -
control them wholly for ourselves.
The workingman. like the farmer
and the business man. must be pa
triot first or he Is unfit 20 live in
America and the ftrst duty NJ all
true patriots Is TO see that we are
able TO prevent alien conquerors from
debating our home policies. Until
this right 10 decide our home policies
for ourselves has been guaranteed
10 us by our own forethpuEht and
exertion. II Is idle 10 talk OF the
particular methods by which the
right shall be exercised.
Let me make a concrete illustration.
Mr. Ford in his business has. To his
great credit. endeavored IN his own
way 10 secure the welfare or those
who work Cor him lie also advocate =
our being helpless as nation 10
protect him and hi~ wurkinEneu.
and ~ works to keep himself and
themselves helpless 10 aid IN such
protection. This j. precisely the at
titUde that was taken in Belgium ny
many successful business men. LIT
the business men and workinEmen
OF America who tend to be misied
by Mr.. Ford's pacthSt teachings take
warning from what has hersllsn the
business men and worklnGm"u ot
duced such teachings 20 practice.
Now as to the pacitsts Let them
ponder on, what has happened in
Mexico today. Let them ponder our
relations at this moment with Ger
many and the other great powers
engaged Ia the world war For
nearly five years We havs followed
the principles Of tho paciifsts a. re-
CARDS Mexico. We have not our selves
prepared. but We have helped the
Mexicans to prepare by furni hing
them arms and ammunition. We have
tamely submitted To the murder Of
our men and the rape Of our women
We have permitted foreigners 10 be
Numbered in Mexico and our own
people 10 be plundered I'm Mexico.
and murder has been added % plum
der MANY Of our troops have been
shot. While we have been nomi-
nally al peace with Mexico. the Mex
leans have killed more American
citizens than the SpanlsrdE killed ln
the entire Spanish war. Moreover,
when tho spanish war was through,
Il was through; and Cuba Porto
Rico. and the Philippines were start
ed on career OF peace and pros
perity such as had never been known
In all their history. But in Mexico,
after all the blood shed. the trouble
has only begun. and We are no near
er solution than We were three
years and quarter ago.
Although we are assured that We
are AT peace with Mexico. We nave
killed and wounded nearly as many
Mexlcans as were Killed and wounded
among the Spaniards when our
armies in the spanish war took san
tiago and Manila. We have not
ga med the good viii Of the MeNtcans
They hate us and despise rs infinitely
more than they hated us five years
ago--at which time they did not de-
spise us at all. The policy ~ pacifsm
has been practically applied IN MsN-
leo and u has resulted in incalCu-
liable loss Of life and property. II
has gained us the utter contempt
OF the people with whom we dealt.
and IL haS brought Us to tho verge u
war with them.