Notwithstanding the lively jeers of militaristic scribes, the statement stands that the possession of weapons is the strongest stimulus to their use. Germany armed to the teeth, felt too puissant for Peace; too easily she found a cause for war: the world weeps. Experience is the queen of instructors; but do her pupils always learn? Mammoth calamities have testified, and are at this moment witnessing, that martial means to avert trouble draw down on men their greatest sorrows. They have caused History to be couched with a sword-point and blood. The nations across the sea are now madly struggling for life, although up to a few months ago, they were cheerfully and blindly making ready for death,—creating the instruments with which to slay one another. Are we, who should be wise with a firm realization of their lack of wisdom, about to be false to our national policy and follow the unhappiest of examples? If the defects of our present national defence speak to foreign countries of our weakness, an increase of militia would indicate military design. A reputation for bellicoseness, fully as much as for impotence, invites complications. Martial rivalry, suspicions, and jealousies are the recipe for disaster.
With military combustibles in perfect order, a tiny spark from Servia set Europe on fire. If we similarly prepare for disaster, the slightest of grievances will serve to prepare disaster for us. Indeed, even with our present limited army, many of us wax perkily indignant, defiant, and menaceful over sundry occurrences. Some hotly mumble that the Tennessee incident is not yet settled; though, in truth, it is difficult, in cool consideration, to establish any reason for continued heat. Others with flashing eye, grumble over the alleged maltreatment of Americans in the belligerent countries; though all United States citizens were bidden home at the very beginning of the contest, and were given every reasonable means of conveyance. Which facts assuredly stamp the troubles of those who have deliberately remained abroad as personal and not national affairs. The moral is this: if, without an adequate national weapon of defence, we are inclined to take such haughty umbrage upon such inferior provocation, how much greater and dangerous will be our resentments, when we are animated with the confidence inspired by an ample military array!
In these turbulent days, when some excuse for war is encountered at almost every turn, the consciousness of unpreparedness is our greatest defense. Our weakness is our salvation. If we clothe ourselves with strength, there is little doubt that certain noisy newspapers which, despite the President’s express wishes, are even now doing their subtle best to stir up mischief, will goad us on to a proof of that strength. God only knows where we shall be, if we forge for ourselves the grim means to get there! And, if the war-god finds homage in the United States, the only remaining powerful luminary of Peace will have set. The world will be enveloped with affliction. Chaos will reign.
But why do we fear the possible advent of turmoil? It is quite improbable. Shackled with a thousand problems and interests of her own, Europe could not harm us, even if she would. Far from desiring to hurt us, however, she seeks to be helped by us. Ours is a sacred trust. Peace and plenty are our charge. While the terrible conflict rages, we can mitigate its ravages. When it closes, we shall have the moral and material wherewith to revive and cure a maimed and bleeding continent. Shall we be such traitors to humanity as to adopt measures which may imperil that trust?
Perchance we sniff complications with Japan. Yet we have received diplomatic assurances from that quarter which should leave us reasonably easy. But if our sense of prudence is so strong that we must provide for emergencies, let us cast about for means which do not spell danger We shall not have to look far, nor ponder much. For securing our country against future catastrophe, there is an obvious method, much cheaper, more effective, and less jeopardous than army-building. It is simply a promotion of that principle whose presence is really the cause of Germany’s greatness and whose decay is the most ominous of England’s menaces: national spirit. Let us not posit the safety of our country in the hands of 120,000 paid soldiers. As patriots, each and every one of us should keep the precious spirit of the nation aglow in his own breast. Then, if disaster threatens, we shall meet it in a phalanx against which it can but patter in vain. Millions, armed with disinterested love of country, are much more mighty than thousands, equipped with perfunctory training, brand new guns, and nicely burnished swords. For, the security of our land is in ourselves, not in our army. When the Spanish-American War burst upon us, we were, so far as militia goes, unprepared, but, in point of national spirit, we were practically a unit. Like magic, unity made soldiery appear. The call for volunteers was answered by many more than could be accommodated. If we are now as united as we were then, why are we fearfully clutching about for new defences? If we are not, let us earnestly endeavor to be. The condition of England is a darkly significant example to spur us on. In her hour of greatest trial, those on whom she chiefly relies for sustenance, her seamen, have leapt at her throat, demanding what she is ill able to give. They fervidly argue that their increased risks should and must be renumerated with increased salaries. They prefer a fat pay-roll to their country’s welfare. Much will England’s vast navy and great army avail her, if her children thus fall away from her best interest and from each other. Heaven forbid that any similar division should obtain in America during time of public distress! To prepare against it, is by far more prudent, serviceable, and necessary, than to rear armies.
In fine, let us not insult the Peace with which our land is blessed, by presenting it with arms!
THE WAR STATE
BY
WINTER RUSSELL
The war state stands before us to-day proud and unafraid. It is however self-conscious. To use the figures and similes of Carlisle in his “Characteristics” like Doctor Kitchener, it has a good system. It is not like the Indian war state that knew no other kind of state and therefore didn’t realize that it had a system nor was it like Countryman and “had no system.” The war state to-day has a system and it glories in it. Its rules are God’s laws and man’s vices and crimes are its virtues. It knows its purposes which it says are divine.