New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-20
Issue of Defence as Clear Cut in
1916 as 1t Was in 1776 or 1901

desire any real and thoroughgoing pre-
parodness. .,..
Such a condition OF affairs speaks
badly for this nation. ] say inns ma
ton" advisedly. | mean you and me,
my fellow countrymen. The executive
and legislative agents of the govern
ment at Washington ought, OF course
TO lead in the right direction. nut III
timately we, the people, have only ouI.
selves TO blame if they do not; for ~
is our fault If we permit them to Ieau
US wrong. Therefore, | wish you to
understand that | am putting the
blame primarily on us, the people, on
US ourselves; although 1t is necessary,
in order TO avoid circumlocution, that
| speak at times Of our governmental
agents.
We, through our representatives at
Washington, have absolutely refused
in the smallest degree TO prepare dur
ing these twenty-five months OF world
cataclysm. We have refused TO learn
the smallest part of the lesson being
written on the scroll Of torment in
Europe. We have fatuously refused 20
take the smallest step, either 10 do our
duty TO ourselves or 20 do our duty 10
others. We have endeavored 10 deceive
ourselves by announcing that in tins
policy of supine inaet:on and OF fail
ure TO perform duty, we are actuated
by the Hottest motives.
/ doubt whether we have really de-
ceived ourselves, and most certainly We
have not deceived others. There Is
not nation in the world which be-
lieves that our course Of conduct has
been dictated by anything save timid-
ity. unworthy shrinking from effort
and responsibility, and cold and selfish
love of money making and OF sof:
ease.
We first Historically announced that
we would not prepare because we were
afraid that preparation might make as
lose our vantage ground as q peace
loving people. Then we became
frightened and announced loudly that
we ought to prepare; that the world
was on fire; that our own national
structure was in danger Of catching
flame; and that we must Immediately
make ready. Then we turned another
somersault and abandoned all talk OF
preparedness; and we never did any
thing more than talk.
The net result is that there has
been no preparation so far, because
Of what has happened in the great
war. Congress is still in the CONVEX
sational stage on the matter. There
is no sign, as far as governmental &C
ton goes. that we have any appre-
citation Of our danger, or of the needs
of the country. No action has been
taken to meet these needs. No ac-
ton adequate to meet them IS even
contemplated.
No Sign of Action Taken.
II has been announced in vindica-
ton Of the political wisdom of those
declining to take such action that
thereby they would favorably impress
our home pacifists. This hope has been
only partially justified by the result,
The ultra acifsts, as represented by
Mr. Ford. have made their great show
ing 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. II has stood
for applied pacifsm, as far as deeds
are concerned. But because, although
it has not acted. it has, at intervals
Ventured feebly to SPEAK IN cOhtfadIc-
ton Of its non-action, the ultra-pac-
fists and their allies have refused 1t
any wholehearted support. They OBJ
ject even 10 make-believe prepared
ness. They insist on even more
thoroughgoing helplessness than that
which we had so amply provided at
Washington.
Demand 100 Per Cent of Futility.
Although our governmental repre-
scntatves have been 90 per cent feeble,
the ultra-pacifsts have demanded a
clear 100 per cent Of futility and fee
bleness, and have conducted their cam
paigns under various banners 10
achieve this purpose.
Hitherto most of our prominent po-
litical leaders have not yentured TO
take any thoroughgoing and clean-cut
position in this matter. They have not
ventured 10 expose the essential i'm
morality of the ultra-pacifist or peace
at-any-price position. They stand ex-
actly as twenty years ago the political
leaders stood who desired to avoid fiat
footedly taking sides for or against
either silver or gold. Such a policy
is probably futile from the party
standpoint. 1t is certainly mischievous
from the national standpoint.