Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-02-21
Washington S Birthday

w dSI1InSSOH LII S'i0oy
A MOTHER of our important American anniversaries is
"A at handths time the anniversary of the birth OF
George Washington first president of the United States
In past years il has been the common practice-and
very good one-to observe Washngton's Birthday by
consulting his familiar and sound rules for keeping OUT
Of war
However since we are IN war now and a most seri-
Gus one is to the point to consult his rules for
An interesting and impressive fact evolves from that
consultation. NN
He apparently did not distinguish between the two
detectives of preserving and of successfully con-
Quoting war, but IN fact JOINED them
WHEN he said as he did many times that "tobe pre-
w pared for the most efecua means of preserve
ing peace he did contemplate that immunity from
war would be the sole benefaction of such policy,
He obviously concluded that a nation adequately and
al all times prepared would thus avoid
and be the best possible position to win the wars did
Washington was too sensible and realistic to
foresee perpetual peace the destiny of America.
He knew TINS was going to be very rich and pros
porous land with possessions universally envied and
coveted and It's shores IN constant danger OF attack and
aggression.
conditions of increasing opucnCe-whiCh it not diff
cult to foresee for dull vigilance
people and their government
WHEREFORE he epettously preached the doctrine of
w adequate armament-surely not in false expectation
that peace could always be thus assured but in
realistic belief that when the inevitable of the future
DID embrol America, victory would be confidently
anticipated and peace more cxpeditiousy restored
Adequate armament and preparedness was the
essential element of the American creed as Washing
ton eXpounded it.
He stressed on all possible occasions in his speeches
and his writings,
He mplored the Congress to give it heed
He pleaded with the people to always maintain a
government faithful to it.
He conceived the greatest merit Of democracy to be
in the basic principle that it would always be within the
power of the people to have government representative
of and responsive to the people.
u Ut what concerned him most was the possibility that
ID the vigilance and diligence of the people might
day be so lax permit datory and mprevdeht gov
eminent to exist and thus to make the people themselves
prey to aggression.
situation today.
For long period of years we have suffered govern
ment to the essential creed of adequate armament
and thus by indifference and neglect have
invited the aggression and attack with which we must now
cope
the purpose of preventing
But can, and surely MUST, consult and obey
his fundamental rule for WINNING war-the Identical
rule by which he contemplated peace could be kept in
some instances and VIGOROUSLY restored in all other
instances.
D ELATEDLY now, but still in sufficient time, must
- have the effectual arms effort and sacrifice
by of which American liberty, justice and
democracy and America itself are to be preserved
Washington would understand problems today.
He conducted and WON for which America was
not prepared
He would also understand the single duty which we
must fulfl-the duty with which charged by
those from whom inherited this free land and those
for whom have it in trust-the duty of overcoming
all past weakness and and of speedily assembling
the overwhelming might and will of America for the
preservation and perpetuation Of freedom
Peace is precious thing, and must and will be
atained-but kind of life must be assured first and
made and indestructbe.
Washingtons birthday recalls these duties us and
dedcates all energies and hopes and oyates their
full and victorious performance.