Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-11-21
Reconstruction and unpreparedness


a the United States was unprepared for
~ war SO now it is unprepared for peace.
For the former there was some, even if very
little, excuse. This had been peaceful iso-
lated nation, unaccustomed to wars alarums,
anu the building up of a great army and navy
against the time of an emergency which it was
believed never would arise was honestly OPP
posed by the masses OF the people. For
the latter there is and can be no Justification.
While the coming of peace so was not
expected. the nation should have been pre-
pairing for its advent and its consequent re-
adjustments and reconstruction virtually from
the time war was declared The nation to
the best of it's ability repaired its errors of
unpreparedness for war and came out OF the
conflict with flying colors, yet who shall say
that the same glorious end might not have
peen attained many months sooner had pre-
paredness made participation possible when
the great call came? Now it must set itself
sternly to the task of repairing its errors in
not being prepared for peace. and it remains
to be seen If it can accomplish that in such
manner as to prevent turmoil and confusion
at home, and to retain in its International
relations and in the development of its for
elgn commerce those advantages which have
peen achieved. Great Britain, France, Italy,
ana Germany most of all, for years have
been laying their peace plans, already their
machinery is in motion and they eagerly
await the industrial and trade opportuni-
ties that will be presented with the signing
of the treaty.
Signs are all too abundant that unless the
present trend Of events is checked by a
steady hand and concerted effort, the United
States is entering upon period OF demorali-
cation. How far it will go and whether or
not 1t will become actually dangerous de-
pends on the national leaders and in the
spirit OF friendly helpfulness and co-opera-
ton with which contending interests can DE
brought together for the solution of COM
mon problems. With the removal of the
war tension and the weakening OF morale,
both the internal and the external fronts
may be broken Newspapers are filled with
reports Of strikes rumors of strikes and
domestic disturbances. Labor, unntentiona-
~, perhaps, seems inclined to assume
truculent attitude, and it's old-time contro-
Versy with capital stands in danger of being
renewed with increased heat, which must
De depressed IL there to be no unhappy
results. recurrence and aggravation OF
these conditions might have been obviated
by little more peace preparedness.
While these seeds Of unrest are germi-
mating rehabilitation of vast industries de-
voted to war work is under way ONLY
tentative arrangements have been made for
Nui ihs III anu satisfying the army or work
men thus released from employment a little
more looking into the future would have
made possible the absorption without undue
friction of these hundreds OF thousands of
men into the industries OF peace. Washing
ton apparently does not know how this is
10 be done Meanwhile military camps are
discharging their men under training and
an army of more than 1000 900 men = about
10 De started homeward, gradually of course
Ihey must be taken care of, and the plans
Tor turning them back into the paths Of
peace are in more or less nebulous state
All these things tend to national demoral-
zatlon, with its attendant difficulties and
dangers. And with it, it seems to be all but
forgotten that the war is not yet over, that
IL VIII not be until the peace treaty has
been signed the Junkers finally oYerthrown
ana Germany made powerless That has not
yet been done. Germany still presents
dangerous factor to the world program, and
rs conditions grow more involved here from
day TO day. this country Is playing into it's
hands, which. weakened for war, still are
strong for that shrewd diplomacy which is
civilizations menace. 1t is a time for cau-
ton and of warning The United States
must regird its loins and endeavor to be as
strong in peace as ii has been In war il il is
not to lose more than it has gained.