The Hawaiian gazette., 1918-01-08
8 o,,,eth;r,o Wanted

rsr IS being revealed al Washington that the
y United Sfafes Is NOT giving the material aid to
our allies which Il Dug TO be giving nine months
sffsf is eutrahee into lie war. Ills being reveal
I'd that our separation 10 deliver the blow expect
"a d Us q seriously tagging.
This Is an uncomfortable discovery, but says
the Chicago Tribune, II is less important than
otbst So far As we may Judge from the public
comment Of government officials we lack some
thing more important than ships or guns. That
something is the sighting spirit
So far as the dollar a year" men are concerned,
there IS plenty Of fighting spirit. and plenty of
response to the urgency of the allied needs. But
when we turn TO the administration we find COM
placency incredible in the light of conditions
abroad France. Italy and England cry make
haste Pershing says 1--WE must give aid at the
earliest possible moment. Congressman McCor-
mick returns from the front with the same mes
safe from The highest authorities in the allied gov
efhhents and armies Indeed, there would seem
lobe no need for such appeals. The terrific facts
shout atus. The Russian collapse has released for
use on the west 'front.' an equipped army of season.
ed German and sAustro-H Hungarian veterans as
large IS aiyFwe can get to the front before 1919,
The Bolsheyiki negotation with Germany prom
iSes alreease 10 Germany and Austria of perhaps
a million and hSH more prisoners all trained if
not equipped it also promises the opening to the
}Reny 81 Russia s supp lies Az D blow Germany
and Austria have just won back from Italy what
Il iotk two years 81 hard lighting and back break
ing labor 10 win and Italy stands today fighting
desperately against invasion IL not overthrow.
Meanwhile in France and Flanders the German
line has stiffcped and is beginning to give back
tons Rfaver perhaps than at any stage of the war
sihcestk battle Of the Marine. .4I..
Yet We find Mr. Baker in an attitude of serene
complacency and inviting US to think only of what
We have accomplished. as il war were an academic
debate with unlimited time to talk it out to a
finish = -. - r.
MI Baker reminded the Southern club the other
day that ~the lwagesso of sin is death. We gather
that he Is confident that our righteousness assures
victory We could wish the administration were
more Inclined to consider the senfentious wisdom
If another ptoyefb: The Lord helps them who
help theuselyesg. 4 4. n 4. It'd \.
This war cannot be won by rhetoric. Neither
Nj. Baker nor Mr.. wilson is going to stop the
German army with a barrage Of noble utterances.
Victory IS not q matter Of argument. 1t is mat
Ter Of lighting hard and fighting now
The trouble with the administration is that it is
still saturated with the paci6sm which prevented
il from preparing for war while its diplomacy, to
say nothing of the current Of events was carrying
rs inexofably into war. 1t is still hoping that il
can make war without fighting. This is the curse
Of psrifsm that i neither can prevent war nor
CONDUCT II resodteiy II is always hesitating,
promising, waiting for its hopes to fall from the
The administration needs to wake up, and wake
upl once, to the fact that we are not now en-
6agedin an election or in diplomatic debate, but
p contest Of force. War may be foolish Or hor-
rig. II IS excessively unpleasant! But it is war
and it Will not wait while we try to make up our
minds how hard wesare going to fight.