New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-08
LESSONS FROM HISTORY
Mr.. Wilson the Writer on the Re-
suits of "A Programme of Peace
To the Editor OF The Tribune.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: I have been greatly interested m
your able editorials on preparedness and also
in to-day's article in The Tribune by hnowl-
ton Durham. which begins: AT time when
there is so much discussion Of the neces-
sity OF suficien. military preparedness 1t is
we'll 10 refer to our own history and STUDY
the lessons Of previous wars and the opinions
If experts." The article goes on TO quote
from Colonel Henderson paragraphs winch
"rnav we'll be studied by every one who Is
eypressiny an opinion on the question OF
nroner nreparation for military defence"
would like TO call the attention Of your
readers to the testimony Of some other MS
torical experts on the same important ana
finely subject. Mr. Woodrow Wilson in his
History Of the American People Vol. IL"
savs: az. is programme Of peace that
makes ia tremble at the bare suggestion OF
war" lie is writing OF Madison's admins
tration and calling attention TO the fact that
a policy OF unpreparedness at that time re-
duced our army and navy to point Of hu-
initiating weakness. II has been great
surprise to some OF US that our President
seemed 70 have forgotten tho lessons which
lie taught US in his history. We cannot keep
back the thought that what he has called his
change Of mind was the result Of his re
reading his own works, especially his dein-
ton Of the War OF 1912. That definition is
in these words: "A war OF arms brought or
by a programme Of peace"
Again, in 1860, the pacifsts introduced
measure into Congress for abolishing the
navy II failed, but substitute passed which
cut of all appropriations for the navy. Mr.
Wilson calls our attention to the fact that
it took US nearly four years to build up
navy strong enough 70 blockade the ports OF
the South thus preventing exports of cotton
and imports OF arms and ammuntioni and
that the war might have ended in few
months If it had not been fer Ruchanans
programme Of peace"
Now, | claim TO be true paci'st. because
believe in preparedness, and believe ~
preparedness because all the authorities on
American history, including Mr.. Wilson, arc
agreed that our wars, especially the two
greatest since the founding OF the nation.
were caused by a programme OF peace and
might have been ayerted by programme Of
preparedness
Can any one doubt that Villas recent war
on this country was the result OF unprc-
parednesss on our part-"a programme Of
peace? That war is going on. We may call
II punitive expedition but il is war.
Congress, in the exercise Of its constitu-
tional rights. has voted 20 increase tho army
Oh . I,.4
cost in blood and treasure We know not II is
safe to predict that it will prove that pro
gramme Of peace" is poor economy. Future
historians may criticse the present Admins
tration in language not unlike that Of the
historian Wilson, when, in describing Presi-
dent Madison's policy of unpreparedness, he
used the phrase "a war Of arms brought
on By programme Of peace"
It is not surprising that a man Ike Mr.
Bryan should take a position directly oppo-
site 20 that Of our historical experts. He
is not student. Tie is too busy talking TO
have any time TO gather knowledge. But
Mr.. Wilson was a writer and teacher Of his
tory. His elevation to the Presidency ought
not to have banished from his mind for
nearly three years the very lessons that he
taught his pupils. But if he has really
changed his mind at this late date and "will
bring forth fruit meet for repentance LET
him 90 in person before Congress, as he IS
wont to do when he delivers his messages
and read certain passages Of his own Ills
tory Of the American People Let him pat
on the professors cap and gown and take
tho pcdacogic whip in his and and drive
some simple historical facts into the minds
o. his pupils, whose present ignorance OF
those facts would be ludicrous If ~ were not
sad. Let him remind them of the law Of
cause and effect that runs through all our
bistory. and insist that they learn by heart
his own exact words in describing that law:
"a programme Of peace is a programme for
var" T. J. LEE.
Newtown. Conn. March o. 1916.