The Farmington times., 1916-03-17
PREPAREDNESS

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completely or more rightly than that
of preparedness. We say more COM
pletely, because it is only necessary
to turn to the average journal or to
listen to the average conversation to
realize that this is the case. We say
more rightly, because it is obvious
that upon the acceptance or rejection
of the idea, the immediate future of
the country may depend, and because,
this being so, it is necessary that a
clear concept should be gained Of
what the ordinary man means by, and
the country is prepared to accept as,
preparedness. As is always the case
the controversy has given rise to
statements Of the most extreme opin-
ions and the application Of the most
ultra arguments. In the eyes of some
people preparedness is synonym for
militarism, in the eyes of others 1t is
a mere precaution for defense. In the
opinion of many it is anathema to ev-
cry properly balanced mind; in the
opinion of others it is a national re-
sponsibility which it would be traitor
GUS to neglect. Yet it is surely OBJ
vious that these various opinions can
not all be true, just as it is obvious
that millions of thoughtful, earnest
people cannot either be bloodthirsty
militarists or half lf-hearted poltroons.
Now there are certain facts which
may be accepted we think by both
sides, and an acceptance of which will
do much to clarity the dispute. 1t
must be admitted in the first place,
that evil will always arm itself, and
that it will be prepared to take def
mite and immediate advantage Of any
sign of weakness on the part Of those
whom it regards legitimately as its
prey. If the doctrine of non-resis-
tance is to be accepted absolutely,
there is nothing to do in such a case
except to await the result, trusting
in the power of good to build sure
defense. Now if the power of good
were absolutely scientifically under
stood by the people who do this, they
would have logical and impregnable
argument in deefnse of their opinions,
Such stand, being scientific one,
would, however, be capable of DEM
onstration in ways very minor to the
resisting of some great political con-
spriacy or crime. If these earlier and
hmore simple demonstrations, there
fore, of the power of good have not
been made, it is clear that the non
resister is relying on theory of pro-
lection he is incapable of demonstrate
ling, and is ready to deliver himself
and his country to be submerged by
the flow of evil, rather than to resist
it physically. If, on the other hand,
the theory of conditional resistance is
once accepted, that resistance should
be capable of being efficient. If it is
not the resisted power of evil will be
maddened and infuriated, by this in
efficient resistance, into the perpetra-
tion of deeds of violence and revenge
Now does the history of the world
prove that mankind has reached the
point when it's scientific knowledge
of good is capable of protecting il
, against the flow of evil? AS matter
: of fact the history Of the world prov
es that the theory of the big battal
ions has been a tolerably safe one fol
, nations to accept as guiding rule
apart from ultimate results. Wha
we mean is that if country embarki
upon a course of persistent wrong
4 doing, it will go eventually to th'
wall. This was the fate of the grea
, eastern empires of the Medes and th'
Persians, of the Asyrians and tn
Egyptians. 1t was the fate of ROM
a and of Greece, the fate of the Ottoman
and the fate of Spain. At the SAM
0 time, during that process of evolution
in which the vitality of those nations
was being sapped by their belief il
evil, the nations which stood in thei
way learned whether mere belle
that right and justice governed wa
sufficient to protect them. What be
came of the freedom of the Hebrew
> tribes when the Babylonians descend
6 ed on Galilee and Judea? What be
$ came of the independence of the Gau
and the Briton when the Roman lie
gions came tramping over the Alps
and the Roman war galleys anchore'
4 off the white cliffs of Britain? Wha
q was the fate of those minor Asial
q powers of which Cyrus made his wash
pot, or over whom Xerxes cast hi
shoe? What happened to the island
ers of Melos when the triremes o
e Athens steered into their harbor
A