Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-03-19
Pacifsts Raped
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L dClllSCS TIdppcU
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tors. paid agitators, sentimental sob
| sisters and reds who are seeking t.
undermine our form of government
| The "delusions" of this strange
brood" the secretary said, are tina,
every one who has gone to war wants
! to 60 again." He asked permission Of
his hearers "to nail that lie to thu
mast" and then briefly outlined the
War Departments preparedness poll
J cies.
| What we all want is not great
army, but an expert nucleus, not great
gatherings Of war materials to fret Us
| In peace-not great notifications Of
men or arms, but we'll thought out
| comprehensive and expert structure OF
emergency insurance plans.
Then, when the people through the
| Congress declare 1t operative, we car
rise in one mighty and overwhelm.
grafton which may menace the peace
and welfare Of America and that
| means the peace and welfare Of the
world"
Mr.. MacNider paid his respects to
the honest pacifist' whom he de-
| scribed as the man who knows war in
all its brutal horror and prays 1t may
never come to him nor to his sons
but does not tear up his insurance
policies and boot the weary fire de-
the worst fire" in the history of his
particular home town has been
fought to an end.
Reverting to the professional paci-
fist" the secretary said che depends
for his living and remuneration upon
the subscriptions which he collects
from well-meaning citizens who feel
that any movement to abolish war is
worth while"
Look over some of the brethren
who make the most noise" he said.
You will find no service to their
country in time of need. They reserve
their battle energy to fight the buga-
boos of preparedness in time of peace.
They suspect that everyone who has
ever worn the uniform and offered his
life to his country is plotting to
concoct another war"
At another point, Mr.. MacNider
said
What is your reaction when such
splendid women as Jane Adams and
Carrie Chapman Gait associate them
selves with professional agitators in
declarations that in the administra-
ton of the national defense act there
is pernicious attempt through mill
tary training in our schools to incite
the next generation to aggressive
warfare against our peaceful neigh
bors? Both of these fine women are
famed for their good works-their
MI cnCaofhin0 RI II oil
I'VE find their names signed to rec
concentrations of pamphlets which in
fer that Army officers assigned to
educational institutions are placed
there to prussianize our children. Isn't
that rather broad charge against
men who have offered their lives in
battle against that very system.
You might as well say that teach
ing a child to handle an oar Is secret
encouragement for a trip to Europe
in an open dory-or that reading
aloud the instructions on the fire ex-
tinguisher and teaching the family
how to use it is the surest way to set
the house on fire.
ct have often wondered how those
we'll intentioned people who discour-
aged my generation along the same
line felt when thousands of good
American lads were sacrificed because
it was impossible to teach them in a
few short weeks the defense needed
against a trained and aggressive
enemy.
They perhaps say 1t was not their
fault that we went to war. Whose
fault was 1t? Was our tiny Army and
Navy the instigator? Was it mill
tary training in our land grant COL
leges that made US plunge into the
conflict? Was it the hurried Platts-
burgs? No. The day came when
America believed that she could bet
ter fight than sell her soul for tenn
porary comfort and safety.
THE perpetual cry of some OF our
busiest paciflsts is: Stop War. Three
fourths Of QUIZ taxes go to pay for
past wars No one wants war, but
an appeal to the pocketbook is a poor
argument, 1t seems to me. There are
worse things than money spent in a
righteous cause. / would rather have
my country honestly poor than be a
part to the sale Of my country's
honor. But America Is not poor. We
are the richest Of the great nations
and we have the lowest tax rate of
them all. Xxx
"If this country is worth living in,
it Isl worth defending. On that belief
this nation has been built. x X Your
professional pacifist is continuously
pointing an accusing finger at our
modest Army and Navy. He demands
that we disband them, that we tear
down the national defense. His theory
is perhaps that because every one
else owes us money, every one loves
us.
"Unpreparedness never saved Amer
lea from war. We have never been
prepared. We have never wanted war,
but we have had it. Any sane person
knows that we will never provoke
war. America is not so constituted.
We need have no fear that We shall
develop warlike citizenry."