The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-09-08
DISARMAMENT THE NEED.

In his speech at Des Moines, the
president said (the capitals are ours)
There was another thing that we
needed to accomplish, that is accom-
plished In this document. We wanted
disarmament and this document pro-
vldes In the only possible way for
disarmament by common agreement
Observe, my fellow citizens, that Just
now every great fighting nation in
the world Is a member OF this part
nership except Germany, and mas
much as Germany has accepted a
limitation OF her army to 100000
men, DON'T THINK FOR THE
TINE BEING SHE MAY BE RE-
GARDED AS A GREAT FIGHTING
NATION.
And you know, my fellow citizens,
that ORNAMENTS MEAN GREAT
STANDING ARMIES AND GREAT
STORES OF WAR MATERIALS.
They do not mean burdensome tax
alton merely, they do not mean
merely compulsory military service,
which means the economic strength
of the nation. but THEY MEAN THE
BUILDING UP OF A MILITARY
CLASS. Again and again, my fellow
citizens. in the conference at Paris,
we were face TO face with this sit
uation: That in dealing with a par
ticular civil government we found
that they WOULD NOT DARE TO
PROMISE WHAT THEIR GEN
ERAL STAFF WAS NOT WILLING
THAT THEY SHOULD PROMISE;
and that they were dominated by the
military machine which they had
created. nominally for their own de-
Tense, but really-whether they willed
1t or not-for the provocation of war.
And so, as long as you have a mill
tary class, 1t does not make any DIFF
ference what your form OF govern
ment is. If you are determined to be
armed to the teeth. you must obey
the orders and directions of the only
men who can control the great ma
chinery OF war. 1t is not merely the
cost of 1t (armament), although that
is overwhelming, BUT IT IS THE
SPIRIT OF 1T, AND AMERICA HAS
NEVER HAD. AND l HOPE, IN
THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD,
NEVER WILL HAVE THAT SPIRIT
(Great applause). And there is no
other way to dispense with great
ornaments except by the common
agreement Of the fighting nations of
the world. And here Is the agree
ment: They promise disarmament
and promise to agree upon a PLAN"
In this remarkable statement Of
fundamental fact, the president put
his finger on the main cause of war
in Europe especially, but also else
where in the world. The building up
Of ornaments establishes in power
the military class. The president in
Inmates that even among the allies II
was very strong. Civil governments
would not decide questions until the
general staff was consulted. For years
and years before the great war, Eu-
rope was preparing for 1t. It did not
begin in August, 1914. 1t began with
universal service, great navies, mu-
ntions establishments like the
Krupps, etc.
ut is not merely the cost of IL, al
though that is overwhelming, but it
is the spirit OF it." said the presi-
dent Aye, that's the rub. The spirit
of 1t Is the most dangerous feature.
Nations think in terms set out by
their military leaders. once they get
in such a frame of mind, they are
bound to 60 to war. He said that
Germany was practically disarmed.
The autocracy has been pulled down
and republic established. Only
100000 men are left Of the 100000
soldiers in gray who terrified Europe
in 1914, 1915, 1915, 1917 and 1918,
Now is the opportunity for mankind
to throw off the military oppressors.