The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-05-19


stage on the matter. There is no sign,
as far as governmental action goes,
that we have any appreciation OF our
danger, or of the needs of the country.
No action has been taken to meet
these needs No action adequately to
meet them is even contemplated
Washington Does Nothing.
1t has been announced in vindication
of political wisdom of those declining
to take such action that thereby they
would favorably impress our home
pacifists. This hope has been only par;
TALLY justified by the result. The
ultra-pacifists, as represented by Mr..
Ford, have made their great showing
precisely because there has been no
real and resolute opposition to them
The administration at Washington,
backed by the majority of congress.
has taken no step for preparedness.
and has done nothing efficient to sus-
tain our national rights. 1t has stood
for applied pacifisn, as far as deeds
are concerned. But because, although
it has not acted, it has, at intervals,
ventured feebly to speak in contradic-
ton of it's nonaction, the ultrapacifists
and their allies have refused it any
whole-hearted support. They object
even to make-believe preparedness.
They insist on even more thorough
going helplessness than that which we
had so amply provided at Washington.
sentatives have been 90 per cent.
feeble, the ultra-pacifists have de-
manded a clear 100 per cent of futility
and feebleness, and have conducted
their campaigns under various banners
to achieve this purpose.
Faith IN Policy.
Hitherto most of our prominent po-
take any thorough-going and clean
cut position in this matter. They have
not ventured to expose the essential
immortality of the ultra-pacifist or
peaee-at-any-p price position. They
stand exactly as 20 years ago the po-
litical leaders stood who desired to
avoid flat-foatedly taking sides for or.
against either silver or gold. Such a
policy is probably futile from the
party standpoint. 1t is certainly mis-
chievous from the national standpoint.
There is only one way to oppose a pol
icy that is inherently wrong and that
is by opposing it with every ounce of
earnestness, every ounce of energy the
man possesses. The only kind of faith
to have in any policy is 100 per cent
faith; if the opposition is So per cent
wrong, very little is to be gained by
trying to persuade people that we are
only SO per cent wrong. The differ
ence between being 4 per cent right
and per cent right is not enough to
arouse much fervor. If we believe
the the most certain way for US to
insure peace is to be prepared for war,
and to have it known that we are pre-
pared for war, then let US whole
heartedly advocate such a policy, not
little, not with tremors and gaspingS,
but fully and absolutely.
The old Wing party was beaten by
the Pro-Slavery democracy, and
finally went out of existence. because
it endeavored to be both for slavery
and against it, and not too much of
either.
Must Be 1sin the Open"
The party that won was the party
that dared fearlessly TO say that it
was against slavery and for the Union
and that stood aggressively by its
principles. The party that has full
confidence in its own policies and a
conceded purpose to put these policies
into effect will sooner or later get the.
people to back it-provided the. poll
cies are sound "A party that shutters
and stammerS, and that tries to be
both for and against its own utter
ances has no right to complain, if the
people prove hesitant about giving it.
power. Why give it power when it
does not say fearlessly what use it ex-
poets to make of the power?
There are, at this time, two great
issues before us both inseparably
bound together. They are the issues
of Americanism and Preparedness
As a people we have to decide wheth-
er we are to be in good faith a people
and able and ready to. take care of
ourselves; or whether. we doubt our
national unity and fear to prepare,
and intend instead to trust partly to
merciful Providence and partly to elo-
cutionary ability in high places. Those
in power at Washington have taken
the latter position. The followers of
Mr.. Ford in the Republican primaries
have taken what is in reality the same
position. What stand do the oppo-
nentS of this position intend to take?
The advocates of unpreparedness the
advocates of sham-preparedness, and
the peace-at-any-price men all advo-
cate what is in reality the same pol
icy. Those who stand against such a
policy are not to be excused if they
stand so half-heartedly that the peo-
pie do not recognize much difference
between themselves and their oppo-
nents. Why should the people change
their government if they are merely to
change slightly the degree of unpre-
paredness? The only sufficient rea-
son for 4 change would be to inaugu-
rate a policy of real and thorough
going preparedness from the top to the
bottom. preparedness to defend our
selves in war, preparedness to do we'll
and justly our normal work of peace.
We must make this nation as strong
as are its convictions in reference to
right and wrong. 1t little matters
what our ideals may be and what
achievements we may hope for, if
these ideals and achievements cannot
be reduced to action. The events of
the past, and the events of today,
shcw that national ideals amount to
nothing if the nation lacks the power
to maintain them against opposition.
Stand Up for Convictions.
Therefore, if we are to win at home
against those of our fellow citizens
who believe in the policy of unpre-
paredness, that is. of national weak
ness and inefficiency. we must have
strong and we'll reasoned convictions
and express them with strength and
sincerity. A considerable. part of the
strength of Mr.. Ford in the primaries,
and of the strength of the advocates
of half-preparedness at Washington,
comes from the fact that no real al