Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-02-09
WHAT is TO BE DEFENDED?

There are some people-fortunately not many-who
in their zeal for national preparedness fail to keep clearly
in mind what it is that we are to prepare to defend Surely
it the nation has existed for than hundred
years. and not nation made over into something
else to deal with possible foes We to safeguard, not
simply our property, homes and our lives, but our
ideals and prncipes-n other Words that great system
of Anglican liberty which perhaps our most precious
inheritance Compulsory, universal military service IN
times of peace is not part OF that system Undoubtedly
it democratic in the that it would apply to ALL
But it is un American since it is based on the idea that
war is of the principal businesses OF life Even In the
midst Of the Great Britain finds it difficult to get the
people conscrpton And yet here those
who think that the American people would consent to 1t
in time of peace.
The army officers know better Believing though they
do that it would be the best pan-from military point
of view-hey yet realize that the people would not sub
init to it, and the officers looks the proposition
wholly ''academic Even Senator Chamberlain, who
favos the pan admits that the people not educated
up to it, And that is the truth We think it may also be
said that there is small chance that they will be edu
Gated up it. We shall have to do the best but
Americans, subject to all those limitations that have
been found necessary to protect civil liberty.
Nothing is cheering than that this should be so
generally recognized by officers of the American army
recognized, indeed clearly by them than by certain
civilians who have apparently forgotten that this country
is America and not Germany. Nothing is to be gained,
and much may be lost by antagOnng the sound instincts
of the American people The effect will be to strengthen
the hands OF the extreme paccSts who already argu
ing that there be preparedness apart from vicious
and dangerous mitarsm 1t is the game of these people
that the extremists the other side arethough all
consciousy-playing. Happily more moderate counsels
beginning to prevail There is very decided
ment in the direction ofadopton of and reasonable
policy of defense and that all Americans favor
without being false to any of the principles that underle
political structure We believe that the people
pretty generally convinced that it is their duty to
strengthen them indeed considerably But behind those
deenses they will insist that the old America, the America
of their love, shall continue to exist.
For that is what they going to prepare to defend
Among the things to be guarded Magma Chara, the
bill OF rights habeas corpus the Declaration of Independ
and the constitution Without these and the spirit
that breathes in Them there would in truth be little to de
fehd We should forget that institutions Of
slight value unless they enshrned in the affections
the people, and supported by public opinion. If every
man in the country trained soldier should b
absolutely safe from attack: But the nation would
longer be the America of the constitution and Declaration
of independence. 1t would be only another Germany.