Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-11-11
Lest We Forget.

To-day marks the tenth anniversary
Of Armistice day A full decade now
has passed since the great scourge called
the World War bathed once happy
universe in blood and tears. 1t con-
lures up q myriad of memories. 1t
Oils our hearts with renewed thanks
giving that the mercy of peace came
when it did. It should send surging
through them as we'll regalvaniZed
sentiment of profound gratitude for the
sacrifices of the men, dead and living,
who barred their breasts to the foe.
President Coolidge calls upon the
American people on this ArmiStice ami
versary to dedicate themselves afresh
to the cause of international peace
Such an appeal never fails to evoke
the right response in a Nation which
has never waged aggressive war; The
United States is a peace-loving and a
peace-keeping country. The triumphant
initiative Of Secretary Kellogg in induc-
ing nearly fifty nations to join in
general pact for the remuneration of
war" is cleaning evidence of our long
ings for warless world and our de-
termination to give them practical
form. Americas recurring efforts to
promote further limitation of naval
armament is a consistent corollary of
Our peace policy.
The United States has just elected
10 the presidency man whose sturdy
Quaker faith inStillS in him a passion
for peace. But Herbert Hoover's con-
ception of peace does not rest on the
spineless theory that America can per-
petually enjoy peace by merely wishing
to avoid war. In his speech accepting
the Republican nomination, the PreSi-
clent-elect told the country that Amer
lea must be respected" Mr.. Hoover
sought to convey the thought that, in
world not yet Utopianized, respect can
be had by Nation only if it keeps its
sword sharp and its powder dry. Hence
he proclaimed himself, Quaker though
he be, unqualifiedly in favor of adequate
national defense.
It is this prerequisite to peace-to an
honorable peace-that Americans are
in danger of. disregarding amid the SOL
emn reflections of Armistice day. Yet
no single emotion that wells to mind on
recurring elevenths of November should
take precedence over the realization that
reasonable preparedness for war is ra-
tional preparedness for peace.
Lest We forget, let us remember that
it has been the invincible American
habit of mind, after every single war
In which the flags of the Republic we're
unfurled, to conclude that they would
never again fly on a battlefield. Lest
we forget, let us remember that had We
been ready in April. 1917. instead of in
June, 1918, to throw the irresistible
weight of our military might into the
allied scales. this day might be the
eleventh, instead of the tenth, anniver-
sary of the ending of the most terri
BILE disaster that ever overlook the
world.
Let us highly resolve, on Armistice
day, 1928, that another emergency shall
not find America spiritually armed to
the teeth, but minus the trained men,
the aircraft. the battleships, the ar
tillery and the ammunition with which
alone peace can be restored, once an
aggressor has required us to make war
Had we entered Armageddon equipped
with something more than gold, graves
now filled with our honored dead would
stu be empty. That is an Armistice
day thought that deserves to be treas
ured.