Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-04-28
Let's Build a "Y"
WORLD WAR CLOUDS

Some time ago we remarked in these columns that
history moved waves there is progress and regress
flood and an ebb tide The hghwater mark of the hu-
man race was attained but few years ago. when PreS
dent Wilson stood at the peak of wOrldvision, and
gmpsed the brotherhood of The listening nations
heard the words of prophecy that fell from his lips behed
the CLEAN of new and brighter morning for humanity re-
Elected in his face and responded with hope and unan
nifty unknown before in the annals OF mankind
But the ebb of the tide began almost immediately
Three years later came the Washington Conference at
most suspicious time for the inspiration of the world
peace had not yet lost its potency. Now comes the
Genoa conference with the ebb of the tide not yet at 1
refluX
What shall come out of it, we know not. Yesterday
oyd George told the world Of WarcOuds that lowered on
the horizon. Clouds that can only be dispeled by the
concerted effort of all the nations of Europe and which
seem to be gathering to still blacker and more omnouS
depths.
The cessation of war between nations, and the ar
brament of their disputes by law instead Of by the sword
is matter of evolution and not revolution 1t took this
country full hundred years stop the practice of duel
ing. Public sentiment had first to be educated to its
adherence 1t will not require less but more time to
abate the practice of international dueEng.
Only the fanatical pacfsts and the blind among
lawmakers on Capitol Hill advocate today serious re-
duction navy and army We had thought the fearful
lessons of 1898 and 1913 too deeply scared into our ma
tonal consciousness to be soon forgotten Our I'M
preparedness in those fatefu years nationwide
crime The skies of 1914 smiling with the sunshine
of peace that seemed to be uendng. Yet an aSsasSnS
shot in far off Serbia set the world into almost instant
conflagratiOn. For part, think the present
conditions in Europe infinitely more threatening.
Seething volcano OF International eaOuSleS and pentup
hareds is nigh eruption at Genoa today. We cannot tell
what the morrow will bring forth. We can only hope
hat in hiS
the dread discipline OF another But 1t may yet
come upon us thOuSandfOd awful and destructive
than the last
Shall we meet it with weakened navy and enfeebled
army, and all our engnery of defense unStrung and
Shrunken to that OF a SecOnd-rate power?
Those who take refuge in the witless prophecy that
there will be no war may suck such consolation as they
can from their nfatuation But if they allow us to drift
helpless into another word-strugge the American peO-
pie will surely demand day of reckOning-Swft and sure
Nor can we find refuge in the stupid falacy that we
will not be drawn into the maeStrOm of conflict The age
of electricity and the aerOpane has made us neghbor to
the world Nor can we evermOre avoid self-created
propnquity.
If war should come out of the present conditions in
Europe, it would if had not finished the job
undertaken in 1918 Peace should have been dictated in
Berlin And it may have been that it the duty of
civilization to march to PerOgrad and cast the twin
devils of anarchy and atheism that there rampant
We filmed the ulcer but did reach root of the dSease
But however this may be- we prefer now to believe in
the wisdom of President Wilson when he warned after
the armistice, against future mpreparedness. We pre-
fer to follow the advice of Secretary Daniels who knew,
If it known to mortal manof the terrible risks and
dangers of this country during the worldwar and who
has again and again spoken the deaf of Congress
in regard to the need of powerful navy.
Perhaps the next few weeks will tell; or it may be
year or longer; but until Europe wholly changes heart
there is no security against war that shall dwinde the
into opIr p1Iof %1rflor