The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-09-03
SATURDAY. SEPTEMBER 3, 1921.
The Rainbow of Disarmament

President HARpING's address at the
Army War College is document OF
epochal importance. No other per-
SON, at any time, has defined the
American position regarding the re-
duction OF national ornaments with
equal clearness, fearlessness and
common sense. 1t is a notice that
cannot be misunderstood, either by
the foreign Governments with which
our own Government viii soon be
in conference or by those victims OF
an Impractical idealism in this coun-
try who persist in believing that by
double quick step they can arrive
easily and gracefully at the end OF
the rainbow.
Philosophers as well as fools have
cherished the idea of coming time
when the undoubted advantages and
blessings OF peace would be so uni
versally recognized that military
strife could no more occur upon this
round earth. A generation ago SO
sane a thinker and so well Informed
an historian as JOHN FIsKE was ar
IDENTIFY predicting a moral evolution
in the human race which, in the near
tuture, would render all armed con-
fiict impossible. Think OF it! This
philosopher of evolution foresaw,
more than thirty years ago, the end
of warfare among mankind as the
Inevitable result of the progress OF
civilization and the certain develop
ment of a higher moral sense. And
he did not hesitate to record his con-
victior--noi as the dream OF
dreamer OF dreams but as scientific
prognosis--thi-tv wears before the
outbreak OF the most horrible war
the planet ever knew!
In the Presidents mind there is
no tolerance of such illusions. There
never can come no says in his
straightforward fashion. "a time
when there is not requisite an
agency for the maintenance Of law
and authority and for national de-
fence" The occasion Is dual: enc
mics of law and order within our
borders: enemies of the nations in
terests or the nations life attacking
from without. 1T is perfectly fu-
tile" continues the President, ito
think that there may never be a
conflict" In the same spirit of COM
mon sense and correct understanding
of human nature, and speaking on
the very same day at the launching
az a superdreadnought on the Della
ware River, that shrewd old political
philosopher Uncle JOE CANNON de-
ciared the identical doctrine. Self
interest controls every nation as 1t
controls every Individual" he said.
Il believe in peace, but you cannot
sit down and fold your arms and
saw Peace! Peace!' We believe In
self-defence, and pray we will con
tinue to believe in self-defence for
the welfare not only Of ourselves
Int OF the whole world"
The President has put the Ameri-
can view OF the purpose of the NO
yember conference squarely and
truly. 1t is not disarmament but
continued armament that is under
discussion; limitation of armament,
IL possible, by common consent, but
Limitation of armament for economic
reasons, for the reduction OF national
burdens that are becoming unbear.
alba not because any really seeing
]JoSs in this Republic have been
h1tnded by the splendor OF an iri.
dcscent arch of vapor that is always
M far away as ever, no matter with
what quickened step you chase 1t.
Are any foreign statesmen com
ing over here to the Washington con
ference with the notion that there
exists to any extent in this quarter
a sentimental devotion to an imprac
ticable ideal, or a blindness here e
the requirements OF national respon
sibility which will give them on adj
vantage in the arrangement Of pro
portionate allotments OF military
force? IL 90. President HARDrNG's
War College speech ought to be use
fully enlightening.