The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1916-06-08

pray that 1t may be q lasting peace We
cannot stop with prayers. II 70 not too
much to expect, IL 10 not too much 70
hope, that America will have thrust
upon her the leadership OF the peace
negotiations. Our history, our national
character, have qualified her to act the
part. But the return OF narmality 10
but the initial step. What OF the fu-
ture? What is the guarantee against
the reopening of the wounds, q reeur-
renee of the strife, and who shall be
the Ruarrantor? Can one country do 1t?
Is any one country strong enough. or
can it become strong enough to act as
world policeman? It does not seem 30.
The most feasible plan yet outlined
is that contemplated by the League
to Enforce Peace" whereby the strong
nations of the world would by compact
bind themselves to enforce Q world
peace by first, enforced international
arbitration, and in case OF refusal to
arbitrate or to obey an arbitrator's de.
cree, to intervene with the combined
force of the contractual powers and
force the offender or offenders to obey.
But such a plan would not abolish in
ternational strife, any more than
stringent criminal laws and an ade-
quate police force totally prevents
crime. And as a man physically unfit
may not become an efficient policeman.
no more may the nation unequipped to
exert the force by which nations fight
become world policeman.
The great lesson taught to US by the
European conflict is our own incompe-
tency in the unfortunate event Of our
being called upon to meet q similar
emergency. Comparatively, measured
by international standards, we are i'm
potent, a weakling. Does not the real
ization bring the blush of shame to
your cheek? Then awaken and join the
effort to prepare for the perpetuation
of peace. An individuals command to
desist trespass is but an empty bluff
without a strong arm to follow 1t up.
A courts decree protecting your life
and property means nothing without
the power of the sheriff to enforce It.
And the nations diplomatic ultimatum
or treaty, when invasion is made or
threatened or national honor assailed, Is
but the now traditional scrap of paper
without the presence and possible use
of the engines of war to emphasize il.
You old soldiers, do you know that
had the North been adequately pre-
pared the Civil war would not have
lasted beyond the second Bull Run? ?
You Spanish war veterans, do you not
remember the thousands of comrades
taken from your ranks by typhoid fe-
yer because of the governments ignor-
ance and incompetency? And you citi-
zens of today, how do you like the
spectacle of IA, 900 regular army troops
and 8, 900 state militia not being able to
capture or kill a marauding Mexican
bandit? Are you satisfied with the
price you have paid, and are you con-
tent to have these experiences repeated
in the future? l believe not. Though
we have beep a peace loving and q
peace seeking people, the object lesson
is before US. Preparedness to perpetu-
ate right is the great keynote of the
hour. Let the Memorial Days of the
future recount, not the sacrifices which
have been made, but the sacrifices
which have been prevented. Strength
and Righteousness is better protection
than strength of Righteousness. Your
antagonist will not always admit that
you are right, but you can force him to
recognize that you are strong.
If l were asked what are the day g
dangers to the republic, / would be
obliged to state my judgment: Self
complacency; unequal distribution of
nstional wealth; demogogism masquer.
aiding under the disguise Of statesmen.
ship; ease loving and ease seeking a
tendency to submerge the individual
under the necessarily false idea of ele.
waiting the mass lack of national ideals
and worship of wealth. But AM also
persuaded that these are symptoms.
not diseases, are not chronic but only
forming, and are perhaps no more
present than they have ever been. And
l am ever optimistic that our people
when brought to realize any national
danger will, as ever before. by the
sound common sense and patriotic de.
votion correct the wrongful tendency
and redirect the nation within the right
path.
congratulate America that she has
soldiers names to honor, that she has
peace to bless, aud that he has a glori.
Gus future to hope for.