New-York tribune., 1917-01-12
PREPAREDNESS TO PREVENT WAR
Labor the Outbreak Naan
Acceptable to ALL and MAXIM" war onp0n"0H
dRenoHb Cause

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: The term preparedness" seems to be
quite as general and indefinite as when it was
first hurled at us as a political slogan.
Through a political campaign, the daily
press and the magazines We have been treated
to oratory and literature Of all grades, from
the quiet facts set forth by army and navy
experts up to the hysterical screeches OF the
ultra timid, but as yet there seems to be DO
definite programme in sight.
War is a dreaded disease which all desire
to avoid, and, like other Diseases 1t Is most
feared when it is raging The prospect OF
peace in Europe, and the glaring failure OF
our present military system so completely
demonstrated on tho Mexican border, brings
TO us a new interest in this question at this
| time.
War n Disease
This war disease has afflicted the human
race since the beginning of time. History
| is record Of wars, so weShave abundant data
on which to base our study, and we will hnd
the cause of all the wars OF the world,
throughout all time, has been practically the
same. 1t can be stated as follows:
A man. or group of men, dominating or rul-
| ing a body Of men, tribe or nation, have,
by force. entcement or misdirection, caused
an attack on other groups, tribes or nations
Of men for the purpose Of increasing the
wealth, power or glory Of the aforesaid man
or group.
In other words, somebody desired some
thing which he could gain b. war, and, in or
der to gain that something, he or they, being
in n position OF command, brought about the
war for selfish ends.
An analysis of all wars since the beginning
Of the world, will not only prove the correct
ness of the above statement, but will also
show that whatever wealth, power or glory
was won went to the ruling few, while the
reward Of the masses was death, poverty and
suffering.
! In discussing the present war reference is
constantly made to Germany, as though this
war were one for which the German people
are responsible, and indirectly that is true,
because the German people have tolerated
and even believe in their present form Of
government, but directly the responsibility
Of this war rests, not on the German people,
but on Germany's rulers and military caste.
For years the rulers Of Germany have edu-
Gated the people to believe in their rulers
and in wars, so that when the time was rife
they could be used to bring other people un-
der their sway and thus add to their power
and wealth. The Kaiser puts it that Germany
is fighting for her place in the sun, and the
tragedy of it is that the unthinking masses
believe him because they have been educated
that way. Does any one imagine thpt, had the
German military machine overrrun all Eu-
rope, the people Of Germany would have
gained any greater place in the sun, or
larger piece of earth, or a better living condi-
zion individually than they had before the
war started?-
What possible advantage could have come
TO the people of Germany, as individuals, even
from a sweeping victory? A few generals
would have been honored and rewarded by
gifts for which the people would pay.
number of statues and triumphal arches
would have been erected TO perpetuate the
memory of the most successful commanders,
Cor which the people would pay. The army
would be increased in order to hold In sub
iugation the conquered peoples, for which the
people would pay. And, all in all, the Kaiser
u
and his military aristocracy would strut
little more, be a little more arrogant and
domneering. the people would pay the eX-
penses and would still be "verboten.'
1t is the old story Of thirst for power and
self-glorifcation demonstrated by kings and
rotentates from the beginning of history.
Removing It's Cause
II laws can be devised which will make the
qualification of such desires through war inn
possible, the cause of aggressive or offensive
war will be removed so we can prepare for
defensive war without the risk of causing
war. The strongest argument Of the pacifist
that preparedness for war will cause war
will be answered, and the greatest objection
to universal military training and strong
navy will be removed. In order to accomplish
this, laws must framed which will make the
burden of war rest equally on all, and will
make personal gain by war impossible.
As a means to this end, it is suggested that
the following be enacted into law:
Immediately on the declaration Of war by
the President and Congress of the United