Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1929-02-21

rs NGIi do Va IlCtS1oilyx- pQt W Ik1l Is
proposed by the advocates of Ameri-
can disarmament, especiallyenaval dis
armament, is that the United States
shall cease to be power for peace
in the world. Aesop's fable of the fox
minus a tail is recalled. His argu-
ments in favor of bobbing tails fell
on deaf ears, being attributed to the
fact that misery loves company. If
America were made unequal on the
seas to other powers it would at once
be believed by other nations that our
arguments for peace came through
fear or weakness. Yet it is seriously
proposed that we should be put in
that uninfluential position, and it is
even argued that this is proposal
in the interests of peace!
=
The talk of possible armed con-
flict with Great Britain has been UNI
fortunate. America will never become
involved in war with England SO long
as we maintain the ratio of naval
parity provided in the Washington
agreement, but which has been aban-
doned in violation of the spirit of that
compact. The only danger Of war with
Great Britain would come about
through our accepting position of
naval inferiority which would cause
our neutral rights to be invaded in
case of European war. Our unpre-
paredness has involved us in three
wars-the undeclared war with
France under President Adams adj
ministration, the War of 1872 and
the World war. Pacifism expressed in
unpreparedness was the direct cause
of our involvement in these three
wars-three Of the five foreign wars
in which we have been involved In
each case our rights were flouted be-
yond resistance because it was be-
| lieved that we could not and would
not defend ourselves.
Many so-called pacifists object to
the protection of the rights and just
interests Of American citizens living
or travelling abroad. They affect to
believe that If we would abandon this
protection, the likelihood of war
would be decreased. But the truth
is that such abandonment would in
vite further aggression until the stu
| alton would become mtolerable, and
there would be popular demand for
| war that would be irresistible. No
schoolboy can advertise to his fellows
his unwillingness to stand up for his
rights without inviting, and usually
securing, an invasion of those rights.
The citizen, however pious Of inten-
ton, who goes about with a self -af-
fixed "Kick Me" sign on his coat-tail
is likely to be accommodated
In order that this nation may be
saved the horrors of war it is essen
tial that we should keep ourselves, as
| Washington said Gin a reasonable
posture of defense" just as it is
necessary that any community should
maintain an adequate police force
against the possible aggressions OF
unruly elements. The argument that
such protective measures are provoc-
atine OF disturbance is so puerile
that it seems strange to see grown
men and women going about utterine
them. Yet undoubtedly some Of those
who engage in this performance are
sincere; they merely leave facts out
| Of account; some are more interested
in the pose than in the principles OF
peace.
The creation of an adequate ma
tional defense no more means dis
position to use it unnecessarily than
taking out fire insurance indicates q
| desire for fire, or taking out life in
surance wish for death, or vaccina-
tion a longing for small pox. On the
contrary our advocates Of unprepared-
ness are the real apostles of war in
this country. Not that they wish OF
intend to fight If war comes Of course
but they are willing enough to sacri-
flee their neighbor's boys to per-
sonal pose Of superior self right,
eousness or to a lack Of interest in
what may happen to their country
The menace of war is too high a price
however, to pay for this gratifica-
ton of the 'pacifist" ego.