New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-07
WHAT Ais THE NATION?
Blinded by Prosperity Its Efemnae from the Lxuies OF an Easy
; It Turns Deaf to All Wanngst Has More Policemen
TO Protect Citizens than Soldiers to Protect Country

defect and symptom in public Intelligence
another indication Of the loss of perspective
The wasted year and the complacency with
which men pursue money and pleasure while
the sword hangs by thread over the ma
toms head indicate the first stage Of al
insidious decay which in nations, well as
in families, may creep down the line with
the years.
True, Congress will this winter provide fol
q somewhat larger army and a somewhat
larger navy, with eyes (aeroplanes and hydro
planes for both, but this proposed step was
made possible only after the lapse of a year
Of watchful waiting on a ethargic public
sentiment, and even now the apathy, the ma
tional weakness, will be revealed anew by
the opposition OF an alarmingly large mum
Der of Senator'S and Representatives.
John B. Cough used 10 cry: Young man
the rapids are below you." Well might a
voice that would carry from shore 20 shore
row cry, Young nation, the rapids arc below
you" for the perils arc great, and the great
est OF all is the feeling common TO the aver
age man that, at least until invasion comes
we can authorize makeshift appropriations at
Washington and go serenely on our various
ways, leaving it to somebody else to carry
the musket.
On the other hand, we have an ex-Cabinet
officer proclaiming the doctrine that if We
are not prepared all will go well with US
We were not prepared in 1875, but the Revo-
luton came We were not prepared in 1872
but war was thrust upon Us. We were not
prepared in 1861. and because we were not
prepared on that occasion the nation was
shaken to its very foundations. We were not
adequately prepared in 1898, but neverthe-
less great responsibilities were thrust
upon Us.
What ails the nation? We have well mean
ing citizens who are opposed TO an army to
protect US against such a fate as that Of Bel
GUM, of Poland and of Serbia, yet these citi-
zens do not show the same faith in their
own countrymen, in their neighbors and
townsmen that they profess 10 have in peo-
pies living in foreign countries, for we have
more policemen and watchmen IN the United
States to guard US from each other than We
have soldiers in an army to protect us from
an invasion. If the argument that an army
leads TO war is good. then the argument that
police force nctes internal disaster should
also be good.
Let no one be deceived by the propositions
lately preached for our national defences
They are only the connecting link between
what we should have and what will satisfy
that portion OF the public which is awake
If Congress does just enough to allay public
alarm, just enough TO make the public think
that the gateway is being closed, then new
element is added TO our danger another
measure of oyerconhdence
What als the nation? Behold one Of its
sons. grown rich beyond the dreams OF
svarice by reason Of his success in building
up a national institution of pleasure. stand
ing ready to spend SlO,OOO0OO to prevent the
nation from protecting itself against dangers
unmistakable!
Must we wait until war opens the gate Of
inferno upon this beautiful land Of ours be-
fore we awake? All Of our beautiful cities
can remain standing just as they are. all the
loss and horror Of war can be avoided if we
will adequately prepare against it now.
The great aiment that the American peo-
pie as a whole are suffering from is over
confidence, borne Of the possession of great
wealth We are pampered children Of fortune,
who feel because We do not want 10 fight we
can run away TO the protection of our homes
and thus protect the present and future by
ignoring Interchangeable conditions
JAMES f. CLARK
New Rochelle, y Y. Jan. %, 1916