South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-08-01

does 10 avail 20 use some 81 the strongest
words known % diplomacy If ambassa-
dcrs eau receive the impression that the
words are not 90 bee taken seriously II
is not words but the strength and reso-
luton behind the words. that count The
chef function OF diplomacy is prevention 4;
hut in this our diplomacy failed. doubt
less because Of its impaired credit ana
tie manifest lack of disposition 20 back
! words with action Had this government
by the use Of both informal and formal
diplomatic opportunities left no doubt
that when we said strict accountability
! we meant precisely what We said and
tlat we should unhesitatingly vindicate
that position. I am confident that there
would have been no destruction OF Amer
lean lives by the sinking Of the Lust
| tania.
1T Is a great mistake to say that reso-
/ lutencss iu protecting American rights
would have led 10 war. Rather. in that
course lay the best assurance OF peace.
W eakness and indecision in the mainte-
nance Of known rights are always sources
OF grave danger; they forfeit respect ana
Invite serious wrongs. which I'm turn ere
ate an uncomfortable popular resent
Luent. That is not the path of national
security Not only have we a host Of
resources short of war by which TO en-
force our just demands. but we shall
never promote our peace by being strong
le in words than i'm deeds We should not
have found 81 difficult to maintain peace.
but we should have maintained peace
with honor During this critical period,
the only danger OF war has lain in the
weak course Of the administration.
81 do not put life and property on the
sane footing. but the administration has
not only been remss with respect 10 the
protection of American lives: IL has been
remiss with respect 10 TIN protection Of
American property and American COM
uerce. 1t has been too much disposed to
be content with leisurely discussion.
we denounce all plots and conspira-
cies i'm the interest Of any foreign nation.
Utterly intolerable is the use of our soil
foI alien intrigues. Every American
must unreservedly condemn them. and
support every effort for their suppress
sicn. But here, also, prompt vigorous
ana adequate measures on the part Of
the administration were needed. There
should have been no hesitation; no no
uon that il was wise and polite to delay.
PREPAREDNESS.
I'VE are peace-lOving people. but We
live in "A world Of arms. We have 10
thought % aggression, and we desire 10
lpreserve our demO~-~tic ideals without
the wastes of strife. So devoted are We
10 these ideals so intent upoG our nor
NAL DEVELOPMENT that | do not believe
that there is the slightest danger Of mil
itgrism in this country. Adequate pre-
Iparedness IS not militarism. 1t is the
essential assurance OF security; 1t is a
necessary safeguard of peace.
1T is apparent that we are shockingly
unprepared. There is no room for con
. troyersy on this point since the ObjecI
. lesson ina the Mexican border. All our
/ available regular troops less, | believe
, than 10000 are there or in Mexico, and
b. a. these have been deemed insufficient
] the entire national guard has been or
. dered out; that is. we are summOning
Z practically all our movable military
{ forces i'm order TO prevent bandit excur-
sions In view Of the warnings OF the
> past three years il is inexcusa5le that
l We should find ourselves in this plight
D For our faithful guardsmen, who with q
fine patriotism responded to this cal
/ and are bearing this burden, / have moth
p ing but praise. But / think IL little short
of absurd that we should be compelled
e 10 call men from their shops, their fac
. tories their offices and their profession
e for such "a purpose.
4 I'm the demand for reasonable pre-
o paredness the administ alton has follow
ed not led Those who demanded NOR
adequate forces were first described al
n nervous and excited only about a yea
II and half ago we were told that tn
n question of preparedness was not a press
ing one; that the country had been mis-
+ informed. Later, under the pressure o
r other leadership, this attitude wa
r. changed. The administration, il wa
said. had learned something and i
10 made a belated demand for an increased
D. army. Even the demand was not prose
q cUted consistently. and the pressure ex
o erted on congress with respect to othe
n administrative measures was notably ab
r sent
e I'VE demand adequate national de
tense; adequate protection on both on
western and eastern coasts. We deman
, thoroughness and efficiency in both arm
. a. the service. Ii seems % be plain tina
cur regular army is too small. We ar
=, roo great a country 10 require Of on
/ citizens who are engaged in peaceful 70
cations the sort Of military service Z
= which they are now called AS Wen in
sst that our citizens in this metropoli
- Ie summoned 10 put ont fires and polio
: the streets
!, The country demands that our mill
m tary and naval programs shall be carrie
Z OUT IN "a business ike manner uuOer IN
. most competent administrative heads
that We shall have an up-tO-date prepa
D. ration; that the moneys appropriate
,- shall he properly expended. We Shoul
! also have careful plans for modelling on
"a industrial resources for promoting II
= search and utilizing the Investigations
N Science. And a policy Of adequate pre-
j. paredness must constantly have i'm vie
- the necessity Of conserving our funds
IA mental human interests; OF promotin
\, the physical well-being of our population
:, as well as education and training:
y, developing to the utmost our econom
\ strength ana independence IL must Q
~ based. upon "a profound sense OF our un
- ~ and democratic obligation 1t mu,
~ not mean the abandonment Of other q
sential governmental work. but that v
= shall have in both. efficiency. and.
neither waste or extravaganza.
= ORGANIZATION or PEACE.
III We are deeply interested in what
III may term the organization Of peace. "
III cherish no illusions We know that Il
III recurrence Of war is not 20 be prevente
n hy piOus wishes. II the conflict OF ~:
ID tional interests is not TO be brought
III the final test of force the-, must be n