Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-03-09

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FORESIGHT VERSUS HiNDsIGHT'
Americans should waste neither
time nor breath exclaiming against
Germany and crying plot, treacnery,
dupNcity and the like as the result OF
She exposure of the intrigue whlch
abught to line up Mexico and Japan.
branding intrigue as wrong VIII not
Yorestail the wrong it seeks TO inhict
against this nation.
We must remember that when the
death grapple is on the usual conven-
lions are not recognized. Germany. IN
conducting ruthless submarine war
hre and in seeking to checkmate the
POSSIBLE entrance OF this nation lnto
the war against her, is simply obeylng
he instinct Of preserving herself re-
gardless of what the result to others
NAV be. History tells us that our ma
ton. during the revolutionary war
helped to create in France the sent-
ment which eventually resulted in that
ination taking sides with us against
England. During the civil war the
Asouth worked continuously to enlist
rhe services of England against the
north and actually succeeded in getting
kEng,.lnd to equip commerce raiders
ytha. drove off the seas the merchant
Marine of the north and in giving
! financial assistance and moral support
4 Vat greatly prolonged the struggle.
n What the people of this nation must
~ xaalize is that such intrigue has exist
Il in the past, exists in the present
Md will exist in the future. 1t is i'm
teaterial whether it is right or wrong;
s)T important fact is that intrigue ex-
need not be sympathizer with
ign German cause to understand why
I'D 7many sought to ally herself with
h&lxico and Japan against US In the
Z. Tent of war. War is question OF
, light; the side which is mightiest
Hins and the best we mortals can do
8 J, to pray God that might will be on
side. that is right.
TN seeking to add to her might IN
Ger war with Europe, Germany has
ftepped on our toes. And because
q New have thus conspired when we
&,lv believe that our intentions to-
ward them are the best, they have
!. faid themselves open to the charge OF
i yiuplicity Charging duplicity. how
kayer. will not serve as protection FOR
lis. We must have the might to pro-
ect ourselves partly because we be-
k,eye that we are in the right and part
iIy because we want to exist as ma
tion whatever may be the wishes of
others.
We can well afford to learn a lesson
.ori this German intrigue. 1t should
awe to awaken us to the iact tnat
,sht should be developed before right
8 to pick up the gauntlet. Germanys
rigue was simply an example OF the
CROUCH preparedness which mas en-
lied Germany, whether right or
.ong, to maintain herself against the
eater part of the civilized world Tor
Ire than two years. Germany mas
Instituted foresight for hindsight.
rmany did not wait for us to declare
ar or accept the challenge they may
tend to give US. Instead. Germany
repaired, or sought to prepare, for
hat eventuality. In other words, IN
h-der to checkmate any addition 10
he ranks Of her foes she sought to
&y plans that would keep our national
Night from being exerted against her.
&There is no use in discussing wheth-
III was right or wrong for Germany
so conspire. The point is Germany
id so conspire and that the future
nav hold other conspiracies, some OF
Fhich we may not be so fortunate as
N uncover in time to prevent their be-
E,g carried out.
Epreparedness requires that this ma.
Ion seek to meet possibilities instead
bracing to meet crises. In other
cords we must begin exercising fore
sht instead of hindsight.
lit is not the purpose OF this article
advocate the entrance of this coun-
" into intrigue but rather to awaken
readers to the knowledge that in.
que may threaten us at any time
peace as we'll as during war-and
,at unless we recognize that fact and
ave the means at hand to forestall
hidden attack, catastrophe may over
,ake this nation, coming up from be-
hind and going over us so fast that
sbindsight of it is all we Will get.
no we want to look at national
catastrophe from the rear?
What the people Of the United
stbtes have to recognize and realize
u That there is war going on in the
.,d tt,,+ ~ 10 likely tn hit us anV