The Washington times., 1921-07-10
This Nation s
Way TO Peace
BY GEORGE w. HINMAN.

continents and we close eyes. The clamor of arms
resounds the and stop our Warnings
come and we do not listen Omens Of trouble about
us, and we do not see.
rival power prepares for conflict If had at ALL the
conflict must be had with Yet imagine peace and
talk disarmament. The world is in flames and we heed
it not.
The present Administration went to Washington
pledged to national defense 1t excoriated the Wilson
Administration for its complete unpreparedness for war;
Yet with the darker today than when Mr. Wilson
took office prepare not for but for The army
reduced to skeleton The navy Is under pressure Fight
ing forces down; construction is depressed
1t is amazing. Reason does not justify 1t.
Facts do not it.
History is against it, experience is against it. Signs
of the times private information public intelligence the
daily life of the nations the whole face of the worda all
are against it. Yet we hug the deluson. 1t seems
incredible
The policy that Congress advocates has been tried
amply and has failed coossaly. From Taft to Wilson
and down to last March always were trying the policy
of without power righteousness without self defense
We tried with Germany. We lost Inundated and
forced into at last.
We talked peace when there peace. We
imagined peace and prepared for peace though peace
possible BY vain faith tempted war and we
got That is one lesson There is another and a
graver
For ten years this country sought peace ferventy
with Japan. We have said there could be no war. We
have absained from the ordinary precautions Of self
defense the Pacific Coast lest offend Japan. We
have retreated before Japan in diplomacy we have
accepted defeat from Japan in commerce; we have
deserted national friends for Japan lest friendships
offend her. have betrayed treaties for Japan lest their
execution estrange her.
We have sacrificed the interests and traditions of
Pacific policy Japan lest their rnantenance tate her
We hav Japan across seaways, plant he{1ef
between ID and island possessions, and entrench her
self in strategic positions along frontiers We
preparing to leave the Philippines lest their
retention bring into conflict with Japan when this
chapter of concession humiliation and sacrifice was closed
by the election of November 2.
If every policy of peace any price, and especially
price of unpreparedness tried by one country
with another it tried by the United States with Japan
while Mr. Wilson was in power All the actions, argu-
ments beliefs magnngs hopes wishes and ideals
used for once at least in international diplomacy With
what result? We all know
What conceded Japan took. Every step we re-
treated, Japan advanced Every smile us right
righteous profession cost policy every Difference
to brought request every conceded request
was excuse Tor new demand. We gave all for peace
for years gave all for peace And what did get
what have today? The least peaceful and
full Japan that have faced the Pacific.
We talk peace. Japan neither talks it nor acts She
strives fevershy to enlarge her navy She builds super
dreadnaughts She prepares to build She constructs
submarines She extends her air service She calls upon
England and Germany for help, gets it, and presses on
ever Why?
With whom does Japan expect trouble? With China?
China has naval power With England? An ally?
With France Germany, Italy? It is unthinkable
There is left to consider except United States
Why lie? The fact is undenied because it undeniable
Hate it as may it is true Thus far have come in
ten along the primrose path of concession UMPIRE
paredness and peace at any price.
In the name of heaven, Congress never get enough
experience to convince them? The war invited by un
preparedness is barely closed The cpples of that war
walk the streets of Washington today The dead are still
on their silent way from France to the graves home
The burdens are still upon and the debts are still
unpaid Who forget? Must this nation be scourged
with scorpions bathed in blood laden with new billions
before the experiments and the delusion de Must
trumpet of doom crack in the Congress? Will
nothing but the hand of fate shake them from their slu
Der, them from their dream? The Congressional