The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-11-10
Member Of The Associated Press
Sixteen Years Later

Sixteen years after the armistioe
which ended the "war to end war;
and which was to make the world
safe for democracy" we find the world
armed to the teeth and democracy q
myth In all but q few countries Of
the world.
Only the United States, England
and a very few Of the northern Euro
pean countries maintain even the
semblance Of democratic government.
With England may, Of course, be
listed its far-flung dominions.
Central Europe presents the picture
Of q powderhouse, with the borders
Of one dictatorship crowding the bor-
ders Of another. and the only prac-
tical way to remove q ruling hand
that Of assassination, as witness the
death of Jugo-Slavia's king and Of
Dictator Dollfuss in Austria.
These things give us pause, As we
prepare to mourn our World war
dead on Sunday. They cause us to
ponder what the future holds for
America; what we are doing that a
new generation Of American boys may
be spared the horrible experiences Of
armed conflict.
The answer, clearly, Is very little.
That America has win to peace can
not be doubted. Neither can It be
disputed that the nations war vet
Grams constitute a potent influence
for peace. They have tasted Of the
dregs Of war and found them bitter.
They are now the fathers Of the ma
ton and as one man they hope their
sons will not be called upon to en-
gage in war.
The pacifists. too. seek peace, but
one Of the questions which must soon
be determined is which route toward
peace will be chosen. win America
determine to take the position Of the
strong man. secure in his possessions
because Of that strength. or viii It
choose to follow the nehulous path Of
so-called international good will?
Upon that choice, ringed around as
1t Is with economic and other con-
siderations, may depend the peace Of
the world.
History shows US no clear pathway
toward peace. II It assures US Of
anything at all on this score. it Is
that peace cannot long be maintained.
It never has been. Even our own
country. which we regard Is peaceful,
has engaged In one war In every gen.
Grafton. not including campaigns
against the Indians.
It records. clearly. however, what
has happened to nations which have
failed to erect proper defenses. They
have persisted. crushed under the
heels Of more powerful military foes.
On this basis. the common-sense
way Of working for peace would seem
to be adoption Of a policy Of ade-
quate preparedness. We are less likely
to be attacked II this is done than II
We weaken our defenses. In the
event We are attacked We would be
in much better position to resist IN.
vasion.
It Is q practical matter Of major
concern to every father and mother
in America.
Upon the policies adopted depends
the fulfllment Of promises made "a
our soldier dead that "they shall not
have died In vain"
The plain fact Is that. unless Ne
are prepared to defend anew the
country for which our heroes died
there win be . breach Of faith not
only with those who already have
made the supreme sacrifice but with
Americans yet unborn, who may BE-
called upon to follow In their foot
steps II this nation is laid open C
the possibility Of successful attack.