The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1917-02-23
UNIVERSAL MILITARY SERVICE

upon it by the European war and the
questions of international law affect
ing neutrals, has dissipated in large
measure our dream of national isola-
ton, and emphasized as nothing else
probably could the necessity of thor
ough preparedness to meet any emer-
gency that might arise. Than the
United States, there is no nation in
the world freer of the spirit of ag-
gressive territorial expansion the
inherited ambition of all heredit-
ably ruled nations. The desire of
the United States for universal
or world peace, the settlement of all
contentious between nations by inter-
national courts of arbitration instead
of recourse to arms, has manifested
itself through the expressions of many
of our ablest minds-writers, speak
ers and statesmen-and their efforts
TO effect some concert of the other
strong and influential powers. The
seed thus sown has borne some
fruit of thought and sentiment, but
this has had little effect in bringing
about any apparent practical results
or promise of results-for a long
time to come at least.
With few exceptions, the nations
of the world are the products of hered
itary rulers, who have been schooled
to the belief that they have an inher-
tied divine right to govern mankind,
and the shrewd ambitious men of
natural statecraft and military genius
that they gathered about them to
strengthen heir claim. Aggression,
extension of power, is and ever has
been with them a ruling passion; and
until there is a world reformation of
this condition-the acceptance of the
principle that all just government de-
rives its powers from the consent of
the goyerned-no nation may so iso-
late itself as to be independent of a
substantial means of defense as well
as the force to assert and maintain
its rights, commercial or otherwise.
The suggestion of disarmament as
a means of maintaining peace is the
dream of an idealist. 1t must first
have the consent and concert of all
the conflicting world opinions and es-
tablished traditions on the subject, as
well as an organized international
court of arbitration for the settlement
of differences that may arise between
nations. Under such conditions, how
ever effective disarmament might
prove, the dream is too evanescent,
too impractical, to be thought of at
this time. The idea that the United
States, as a great moral force, a peace
loving and Independent people, should
set the world high example along
this line, as suggested by few ear
nest but impractical minds, is not to
be thought of-the risk would be dan
gerous in the extreme. To fortify our
selves behind a substantial coast and
land defense does not imply that we
love peace less or that we are aggres-
sively inclined. 1t would be much
better for the world if all men were
scrupulously honest, yet we know all
men are not, and so society enacts
laws to protect itself against dishon-
est acts, placing behind them penal
ties and the power to enforce. Even
then we do not neglect to bar our
doors and place all valuables behind
well guarded locks. Who would say
that this promotes dishonesty? 1t is
only wise provision Of society pre-
paredness.
And so with our nation. We are
for peace; we discourage any spirit of
aggressive territorial expansion or
infringement of the rights of other
nations; we abhor war. Yet we can
not afford to have our territory ex-
plotted, our rights as nation disput-
ed or unjustly assailed, though we
may be disposed to show great pa
thence in the face of insolenc and in
justice. So, we hold that it is neces-
sary for our government to fortify
itself with an adequate means of de-
tense and of enforcing our rights as
a people of peaceful pursuits. That
we have not been prepared to do so,
the situations which the European
war has forced upon us and our pres
ent all but warlike relations with one
of the belligerents, is brought pain
fully home to us. This is fortunate,
perhaps, as it has also awakened US
to a realization of our nations weak
ness and started the movement for a
better national armament and the me-
cessity for a thoroughly organized,
equipped and trained citizen soldiery,
that may be modified and placed in
a IL l.