Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-08-13
ROGERS ON WAR


Governor Bakers conclusion that
those who disagree with Admiral
Rogers conclusions will be called
"pacifsts", may be correct. as there
always will be the possibility Of an
Admiral Rogers to call them so. This,
however. does not mean that the man
in the street will regard them as
pacifists; certainly not of the variety
who claim that all necessary is for
the lamb to go in and lie down with
the lion, perhaps asking for an agree
| ment on the part of the lion that he
will not indulge in his carniverous
propensities.
But let's see just what Admiral
! Rogers said, and this extract from
! his remarks will afford a pretty good
idea Of it. Perhaps it would be well
to bear in mind that he had been
listening for three days at the Will
| Jamestown round table" to discus
sion and various views for keeping
the peace. He also had been told
that the population OF this country
| by the end of the century will equal
/ that OF China; that in process Of
years. there will hardly be standing
room on this world of ours for the
number of people then to be in ex-
! istence. He may have been affected
| in his judgment by what he listened
/ to in those three days, though his
statement is said to have been a
carefully prepared one, and his argu-
mcnt IL carried to it's logical conclu-
/ sion would amount to much the same
as the conclusions of the German war
| theorists.
] He said the American plan rested
on the mistaken belief that the whole
! world wanted to do away with war.
| There might be some possibility of
| agreeing upon limitation of arma-
ment, he said. If all the world were
| animated by the same adherence of
war shown by Professor Shotwell;
! but he believed certain great and
/ powerful nations regard successful
war as means of getting what they
want. though too expensive for fire.
quent use"
| with our wealth. our complex in
| dustrial civilization and our isola-
| tion." Admiral Rogers went on, I'VE
| in America are inclined to have too
! optimistic views on the possibility
! for limitation of armament, and to
| have more sympathy for foreign
countries than Is customary in world
| affairs" He added that Americans
were so trustful as nation that
many of them would be willing Ito
trust the destinies of our country to
a treaty of disarmament or very re-
| duced armament"
; other nations. under harder eco
! nomic conditions than ours, the Ad-
miral continued. were "the most like
| ly to make war and least likely in
good faith to accept limitations upon
their ornaments"
I'VE must be sure" he said. that
/ such nations are not likely to take
up arms against us merely to divide
! our wealth"
| Good so far; those who don't agree
with that much Of his views We think
are fairly entitled to be termed paci-
fists. But when he accepts the theo-
ry OF overproduction as correct and
proceeds to draw the conclusion that
human beings will become cannibal-
istic, there will be many unwilling to
follow him, though admitting that if
his premise about conditions of over
production be correct his conclusions
should be considered.
Like many others, the leader of
| this discussion believes that law can
replace war;" continued the Admiral.
such believers decline to recognize
that law is merely rule of proceed
ure, for the exercise of the force
+, against recalcitrants and resistance
of groups of individuals or of nations
| to compulsion ultimately leads to
private or national war.
But as law. whether municipal or
| international, can only provide a rule
OF conduct suitable to existing social
and economic conditions of the day.
1t follows that when conditions
change. the law, as the accepted rule
of conduct, needs modification.
Having all that We want in the
way of land, this generation OF
Americans is most peacefully dispos-
/, ed toward all the world and wishes
other nations less fortunate to recip-
rocate our own sentiments, but they
do not
/, I'VE are now INDUCING ourselves
nationally in international goodwill
because we want for nothing. ] do
not suppose that the United States
| will ever desire to make war against
any country before our continental
population passes 200, 200. 900, but aft
er that, If there remains any man
hood in our mixed race Of descend
ants, they win assured1y do So"
In the meantime. other nations
are likely to attack us.
I'VE cannot too often, recall the
Bible saying that the strong man
armed keepeth his palace in peace.
$50 much for the present. and .