Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-04-22

the unveiling OF the Bolivar statue.
There he declared that the United States
would always be ready TO fight TO up
hold the Monroe doctrine. and TO pro-
tect the smaller South American States
from aggression at the hands of for
eign powers-a statement which was
unnecessary, as this nation naturally
will uphold its principles.
Harold Phelps Stokes. one of tho
shrewdcst correspondents I'm Washing
ton. states in q dispatch published by the
| New York Evening Post that that
speech has caused much apprehension
in Washington. observers here have
been struck by rather pugnaclous cast
! given to some OF the administrations
words and acts since March {, and arc
wondering whether. taking them alto
gcther. they arc merely an expression
/ of that aggressive Americanism and
| championship OF tho Monroe doctrine
which was to be expected Of the new
regime. or whether they signify some
thing more. They are wondering to
put it bluntly. whether tho admins
tratIon really considers another early
war. involving America, as something
distinctly less than unthinkablc"
In that inaugural address Mr.. Hard
! ing spoke OF the war Of the future: his
special envoys are investigating mat
tcrs in the East; he has talkativc
naval secretary who believes in whole
hog or mono" so far as his department
is concerned: one of the members Of
his official family is believer in hand
ling Mexico with the gloves on; the
Republican party's policy regarding
the Colombian treaty was neatly re-
vcrscd; and the nation was told at tho
Bolivar statue that we stand willing
to fight IL necessary TO protect these
continents and these sturdy young de
mocracios from oppression and tyr
amy" In addition to all this We have
turned our back upon tho League of
Nations. the only organization which
exists to preventw ar. and arc heating
more piouKhsharcs into sabrcs what
is the answer
one answer. which might easily ~
given by Mr HardinE's friends, is that
the President wishes to see the arma-
mont program 20 through Congress
without undue delay. and that war
talk" viii stimulate tho appropriation /
Of money for the use of the army ana
navy.
Another answer IS that Mr. Harding |
is tingcd with imperialism, and sur
rounded by imnerialists, who believe,
though they may not say II in public, /
that our nag must be carried to tie
uttermost PARTS or tho Garth.
Preparedness is a good thing; insur-
ance against war would be an excellent
thing. We have refused the warranty
Of the League Of Nations, and we arc
going it alone. while the sabres rattle,
and all those who are connected with
the military and naval establishments
are making big plans for the future.
Today three-fourths Of each dollar
paid to the national government IS
used to defray the cost OF past wars
and for preparedness against future
ones. There is no sign that this bur
den will be lifted from our shoulders.
The whole world is sick Of war. OK
cept those few who fatten from it.
Is there not danger that all OF this
biggest navy in the world chatter.
and this continual reference 70 fight
ing by the Administration INDY cause
some uncasiness in certain foreign
The diplomats at Wash
ngton representing foreign governments
are not fools. They observe the way
which the wind blows II our Ad-
talks continually Of war.
viii there be war? Is this TO be a pug
1acious. aggressive, chip-on- -the-shouI-
Ter Administration. or one which will
seek % iron out the troubles Of the
world? :. We believe firmly in pre-
1aredness; we commend Mr.. Harding
or all purely defensive steps which he
axes. But instead Of SO much talkd
would IT not be wiser to follow the
maHm-~Talk softly. but I
AIRY big stick?
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nypMAE STpEpT CAPS