The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-06
PREPAREDNESS IS FUTILE
 REMEDY, SAYS EASTMAN

dered the direction of the human family to Confucius and other heather deites.
 This deplorable calamity was not to occur. There is a providence that shapes our ends, rough hew them as we will.' The insignificant nations clinging to the per meter or the great China, is proba bly one of the methods by which providence prevented the preparedness of China. We are prepared to echo the prophetic ad- monition of the great Napoleon, Don't t arouse the sleeping giant
 President Wilson now desires to furnish the world with an American epic. The schools, the academies, the colleges and the homes are to be changed into military camps to give the American boys military training. How long will it be before the boys have not only military training, but also military aspiration2 The soul-stir- ring drum, the uniform, the quick step, the war song and the battle hag: are these not sufficient to fill the exuberant young heart with battle craze? The young soldier will not long remain satis- lied with the applause of citizens at their mock exhibitions. They will soon be eager for the glory only to be obtained from fields or carnage. A Roosevelt may become the ruler. Filled with military ambition, he will fling the banners on the outer wall, cry havoc and let loose the dogs of war This will constitute the first chapter in the great American epic. The other chapters are written on the walls of Hades, where dead soldiers may read them. When the final curtain goes down on the great American epic germed by preparedness, what prophetic soul can tell whether that curtain conceals a powerful empire, or a great country broken into fragments? In the future, America will possess untold millions of magnificent men, made more powerful by assimilation, by education by superb environment, and by the strengthening spirit of liberty. Permit the slightest signal of danger to appear above the hori- zon and millions of swords will flash from their scabbards, wielded by mill lions of men who will compare favorably with the mythological goes of antiquity. This great country, with it's vast popu- lation increasing, it's vast wealth increas- ing and it's ineXhaustible constructive power thoroughly armed and equipped, will become menace to the balance of the world, just as Germany became a menace to the nations surrounding her. They will all arm and equip to the full mea sure of their ability for self protec- ton. They will watch each other with a jealous eye. The least molestation, the least provocation, the least violation of international law, may precipitate the bloody universal conflict spoken of by the blind prophet in the Isle of Patmus. The venal press the sycophantic politi- elan, the selfish and heartess capitalist the frivolous and supercilious military and navy officer, would hang crepe upon every door, change every happy wife into weeping widow, and every joyous child into a wretched orphan. Unseen devils will seize their acquired spells to con struct a monument on their graves to commemorate their infamy. America is a magnificent garden. Its atmosphere is sweetened with perennial roses; it's air is resonant with the songs of birds; its waters are pure and transparent and laden with epecurian feasts. We inn agined the American gardens to be de- vised by Providence, where the oppressed might come and join us in worshiping the Heavenly Father, directed only by the conscience. We have read of beautiful gardens. They were the dream of poets ours is 8 God-given reality, and we would sacrilegiously convert it into a vile me nagerie where every man must go armed to protect himself from imaginary wild beasts. The nation is up against a great crisis. The color must be selected for be white, or shall it be red? Shall we paint on our banners the Lord Jesus with His olive branch ,or shall we paint paint Jehovah with his love, or shall we preparedness "grim visaged war will rear his wrinkled front and like the spec tral dagger dripping with the blood of the murdered Banquo, it will not down.
 ELWELL EASTMAN.
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