The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1916-05-02

fatal than that? How long will ma
tons respect for her own integrity
aad honor withstand the temptation
to rob defenseless neighbor of her
rights?
This fanciful vision of worldwide
peace through disarmament is a
noble ideal, a beautiful dream.
Couched in well-sounding phrases, it
appeals strongly to the peace-loving
citizens; but it must be remembered
that visionary theories cannot over
come selfish ambition in national
councils. 1t may be true that diplo-
macy is the mightiest weapon in the
world. Yet the pen without the sword
to enforce it's declarations is not SUI
fcient guarantee that nations
rights Will be respected. Universal
peace is as yet but a dream, mere
fantasy Of the idealistts mind; for al
ready the flames Of international
strife have burst forth and today all
Europe is ablaze. Mars sits triumph
ant upon his blood-stained throne
and hurls down his flashing lightning
far more deadly than the thunderbolts
of Jove. The time is far distant when
the olive branch will supersede the
sword. Generations yet unborn may
live and die before there comes that
happy millennium when the peoples
of the earth "shall beat their swords
into plowshares and their spears into
pruning-hooks," when "natioa shall
not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any
more"
Therefore, since We may be called
upon to protect ourselves from the
ravaging encroachments of some ag-
gressive power, it is urgent that we
be ready. Then the question natur-
ally arises, to what extent are we
now prepared to defend ourselves?
Government officials say that this
country is woefully weak in military
resources. In the first place, our
navy is not sufficiently strong. OW-
ing to our geographical position, the
battleship must form our first and
chief bulwark of defense. Yet our
navy is deplorably deficient in men,
in gunboats, in scout-cruisers, in sub
marines, in transports. and in other
deep-sea fighting craft. Naval ex-
perts testify that American dread
noughts would stand but little show
ing with modern sea-fghters of other
nations. The United States navy is
not yet a fighting fleet worthy OF the
great nation whose sovereignty and
institutions it must help preserve.
If the enemy shall have destroyed
our feet, then the next line
of protection for us will nat
urally lie in our coast de-
fenses. Yet at present our shore-line
Notifications are shamefully weak.
The chief of coast artillery reports
in his branch of the service an alarm
ing shortage in. men, in ammunition
and in modern guns. 70 overcome
our feeble land batteries would be
but child's play for the average for
eign feet.
If the invaders shall have landed
upon our coasts, only the mobile
army will lie between them and COM
plete possession of the United States
Then the last stand for American life
and liberty will have to be made by
force which is hopelessly unprepared
and totally inadequate. Our regular
army is now far below even its au-
thorized strength. A prominent cltl-
zen recently entertained with ban
quet the entire reserve army of the
United States-sixteen men! The gov
ernment now provides, on an aver
age. one horse for every ten caFalry-
men. The war department says: 1--WE
have nothing like sufficient artillery
and artillery ammunition" For the
protection of one hundred million
human beings, and of three million
square miles of territory, a LAID
blessed with divine heri-
tage Of art, science, and wealth
noble possessions with which
God has so graciously endowed us
there is an army little more than
twice the size of New York City's police
force. Tine United States government
offers fer citizens as protection