Project Gutenberg's Our National Defense:, by George Hebard Maxwell This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org Title: Our National Defense: The Patriotism of Peace Author: George Hebard Maxwell Release Date: December 13, 2011 [EBook #38288] Language: English Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OUR NATIONAL DEFENSE: *** Produced by Bryan Ness, Josephine Paolucci and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net. (This book was produced from scanned images of public domain material from the Google Print project.) OUR NATIONAL DEFENSE THE PATRIOTISM OF PEACE BY GEORGE H. MAXWELL THE FOURTH BOOK OF THE HOMECROFTERS RURAL SETTLEMENTS ASSOCIATION WASHINGTON MARYLAND BUILDING NEW ORLEANS COTTON EXCHANGE BUILDING 1915 Copyright, 1916, BY RURAL SETTLEMENTS ASSOCIATION. THE UNIVERSITY PRESS, CAMBRIDGE, U. S. A. TO ALL HOMECROFTERS THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED "Peace hath her victories "Peace hath her victories No less renowned than war" PREFATORY NOTE Ammunition IS NECESSARY TO WIN A BATTLE. WHERE IT IS A GREAT Battle for Peace, TO BE FOUGHT WITH PEN AND VOICE, THE ammunition needed is facts. WHENEVER THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES KNOW THE facts RELATING TO THE SUBJECT TO WHICH THIS BOOK IS DEVOTED, then what it advocates will be done. MUCH FAULT HAS BEEN FOUND WITH CONGRESS BECAUSE OF THE COUNTRY'S UNPREPAREDNESS. CONGRESS IS NOT AT FAULT. "THE STREAM CANNOT RISE HIGHER THAN THE FOUNTAIN." THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE IS THE LAW. THE PEOPLE OF THIS NATION ARE UNALTERABLY OPPOSED TO A BIG STANDING ARMY. WHEN THEY KNOW THAT THE SAFETY OF THE NATION CAN BE ASSURED WITHOUT EITHER THE COST OR THE MENACE OF MILITARISM, THE PEOPLE WILL DEMAND THAT IT BE DONE, AND CONGRESS WILL REGISTER THAT POPULAR DECREE, GLADLY AND WILLINGLY. IT IS NOT AT ALL SURPRISING THAT CONGRESS DOES NOT YIELD TO THE CLAMOR OF the militarists when they know the adverse sentiment of the people on that subject. President Schurman of Cornell recently said: "IT WOULD BE SELF-DECEPTION OF THE GROSSEST CHARACTER IF AMERICANS MADE THEIR LOVE OF PEACE THE CRITERION OF THE MILITARY POLICY AND PREPAREDNESS OF THEIR COUNTRY. IT WOULD BE MADNESS TO ENFEEBLE AND IMPERIL THE UNITED STATES BECAUSE WE believe peace the chief blessing of the nations." ALL THAT IS TRUE. BUT WHEN THE PROBLEM IS ANALYZED there is no other way that can be devised, EXCEPT THAT PROPOSED IN THIS BOOK, THAT WILL SAFEGUARD THE NATION AGAINST FOREIGN ATTACK OR INVASION, AND DO IT adequately, WITHOUT INCURRING STUPENDOUS COST OR CREATING A MENACE TO LIBERTY. AMERICANS ARE A BRAVE PEOPLE, BUT THEY HAVE A HEREDITARY AVERSION TO the clank of a saber in time of peace. THERE ARE A FEW BOOKS THAT EVERY ONE WHO WISHES TO MASTER THE SUBJECT SHOULD READ. FIRST AMONG THESE IS "FIELDS, FACTORIES AND WORKSHOPS," BY PRINCE KROPOTKIN, PUBLISHED BY G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS, NEW YORK. A NEW EDITION OF THIS book has been recently issued which costs only seventy-five cents. "THE IRON IN THE BLOOD" IS A CHAPTER IN "THE COMING PEOPLE," BY CHARLES F. DOLE, PUBLISHED BY T. Y. CROWELL & CO. OF New York. A reprint of this book can be had for twenty-five cents from the Rural Settlements Association. "THE SECRET OF NIPPON'S POWER" IS ANOTHER PERTINENT ARTICLE, IN "THE FIRST BOOK OF THE HOMECROFTERS." A NEW AND ENLARGED EDITION OF THIS BOOK WILL SOON BE ISSUED. IN THE MEANTIME COPIES OF THE FIRST EDITION CAN BE HAD FOR TWENTY-FIVE cents from the Rural Settlements Association. MORE HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED IN DULUTH, MINNESOTA, TO PROVE THE BENEFITS OF THE HOMECROFT LIFE THAN IN ANY OTHER CITY IN THE UNITED STATES. A SPECIAL PUBLICATION, DESCRIPTIVE OF THE HOMECROFT WORK IN DULUTH, AND A PAMPHLET BY GEORGE H. MAXWELL ENTITLED, "THE COST OF LIVING," WHICH SHOWS THE RELATION TO THAT SUBJECT OF THE HOMECROFT SYSTEM OF EDUCATION AND LIFE, CAN BE OBTAINED BY SENDING TEN CENTS IN STAMPS TO THE RURAL SETTLEMENTS ASSOCIATION, COTTON EXCHANGE Building, New Orleans, La. THE LEGISLATIVE MACHINERY NECESSARY TO INAUGURATE THE PLANS FOR WORK TO BE DONE THROUGH THE FOREST SERVICE AND THE RECLAMATION SERVICE IS ALL PROVIDED FOR IN THE NEWLANDS-BROUSSARD RIVER REGULATION BILL. THAT BILL PROVIDES FOR RIVER regulation, FLOOD PREVENTION, LAND RECLAMATION AND SETTLEMENT, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF FOREST PLANTATIONS IN ALL PARTS OF THE UNITED STATES. IT ALSO BRINGS THE DEPARTMENTS OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT INTO COÖRDINATING BY FORMING THE BOARD OF RIVER REGULATION. THROUGH THAT BOARD, ALL NECESSARY PLANS WOULD BE WORKED OUT FOR COÖRDINATING OTHER DEPARTMENTS WITH THE WAR DEPARTMENT, AND COMPLETING THE ORGANIZATION OF THE NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION RESERVE AND THE HOMECROFT Reserve. When perfected, those plans would be presented to Congress with a recommendation for their enactment. THOSE WHO FAVOR THE PLAN ADVOCATED IN THIS BOOK ARE URGED TO CONCENTRATE THEIR INFLUENCE FIRST ON THE PASSAGE OF THAT BILL AS THE ENTERING-WEDGE TO THE ULTIMATE ADOPTION OF THE ENTIRE PLAN. THEY ARE ALSO URGED TO DO ALL IN THEIR POWER TO ENLIST the active interest of their friends by inducing them to study the subject and get the facts. COPIES OF THE NEWLANDS-BROUSSARD RIVER REGULATION BILL AND EXPLANATORY PRINTED MATTER MAY BE HAD WITHOUT CHARGE BY writing to the National Reclamation Association, 331 Maryland Building, Washington, D. C. THIS BOOK, OUR NATIONAL, DEFENSE—THE PATRIOTISM OF PEACE, HAS BEEN PUBLISHED BY THE RURAL SETTLEMENTS ASSOCIATION. THE PRICE OF THE BOOK IS $1.25, INCLUDING POSTAGE, AND ORDERS FOR COPIES, WITH REMITTANCE FOR THAT AMOUNT, should be sent to Rural Settlements Association, Cotton Exchange Building, New Orleans, La. GEORGE H. MAXWELL, Executive Director, Rural Settlements Association, National Reclamation Association. [Pg v] [Pg vi] [Pg vii] FOREWORD Would it interest you to know THAT THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES, HAVING FIRST BLINDFOLDED THEMSELVES WITH THE SELF- complacence of ignorance, are walking along the crest of a ridge with a precipice on one side falling sheer into the abyss OF DEVASTATION BY WAR WITH AN INVADING FOREIGN POWER, WHILE ON THE OTHER SIDE BOILS THE SEETHING CRATER OF A SOCIAL volcano? IF SO, you will be convinced of that fact, IF YOU WILL CAREFULLY AND THOUGHTFULLY READ THIS BOOK THROUGH FROM COVER TO cover; and you will also be convinced that the only road to safety is that pointed out in this book. Would you not feel that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" when reflecting on the ease with which any of THE GREAT EUROPEAN POWERS COULD again OCCUPY AND BURN WASHINGTON, AS IT WAS BURNED IN 1814, AND CAPTURE AND LEVY an enormous indemnity upon New York? WOULD YOU CONTEMPLATE WITH INDIFFERENCE AND EQUANIMITY the annexation of the Pacific Coast of the United States to Japan? HAS IT OCCURRED TO YOU THAT, UNLESS WE WAKE UP, MEND OUR WAYS AND CHANGE OUR NATIONAL POLICY, WAR IS ULTIMATELY AS inevitable between the United States and Japan as it has been for years between France and Germany? Would it interest you to know THAT IN THE EVENT OF SUCH A WAR THE JAPANESE WOULD BE FOUND FULLY PREPARED, WHILE WE ARE UTTERLY UNPREPARED; AND THAT JAPAN WOULD, WITHIN TEN DAYS, MOBILIZE AN ARMY IN CALIFORNIA LARGE ENOUGH TO INSURE TO THEM ITS MILITARY CONTROL; AND THAT WITHIN FOUR WEEKS THEREAFTER THEY WOULD LAND AN ARMY OF 200,000 VETERAN SOLDIERS ON the Pacific coast? Would it interest you to know THAT IN SUCH AN EMERGENCY OUR NAVY WOULD BE IMPOTENT TO CHECK THIS OCCUPATION AND INVASION, AND THAT OUR SO-CALLED BUT NOW CONFESSEDLY MISNAMED COAST DEFENSES WOULD BE ABOUT AS MUCH PROTECTION AS A LARGE LOAD OF ALFALFA HAY; AND THAT AS PART OF THIS MILITARY OCCUPANCY BY JAPAN OF THE TERRITORY LYING BETWEEN THE CASCADE AND SIERRA NEVADA MOUNTAINS AND THE PACIFIC OCEAN, THE JAPANESE WOULD DYNAMITE EVERY TUNNEL, DESTROY THE COLORADO RIVER RAILROAD BRIDGES, AND FORTIFY THE MOUNTAIN PASSES; AND THAT THE RECAPTURE OF ONE PASS BY THE UNITED STATES WOULD be a more difficult military undertaking for us than was the capture of Port Arthur or Tsing-Tao by the Japanese? Would it interest you to know THAT THE VERY REAL DANGER THAT CALIFORNIA, WESTERN OREGON, AND WESTERN WASHINGTON MAY BE ANNEXED TO JAPAN AND A THOUSAND MILES OF DESERTS AND INACCESSIBLE MOUNTAIN RANGES, INSTEAD OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN, SEPARATE JAPAN FROM THE UNITED STATES, IS A DANGER THAT EXISTS BECAUSE NOT ONE IN TEN THOUSAND OF THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES WILL GIVE THE SLIGHTEST HEED TO THIS QUESTION, WHICH OVERSHADOWS IN IMPORTANCE EVERY OTHER QUESTION affecting the people of the United States? Would it interest you to know THAT THERE IS JUST AS MUCH, AND MORE, DANGER THAT THE DESOLATING FLAMES OF WAR MAY SWEEP OVER AND DEVASTATE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AS THERE WAS THAT THEY MIGHT SWEEP OVER AND DEVASTATE BELGIUM? YOU DOUBTLESS WILL SAY, "THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE!" YOU WOULD HAVE SAID THE SAME THING A YEAR AGO ABOUT BELGIUM, WITH MUCH MORE of assurance and positive conviction. Would it interest you to know THAT THE DOING OF THE THINGS THAT WOULD INSURE PEACE FOREVER BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND JAPAN, AS WELL AS ALL EUROPEAN NATIONS, WOULD AT THE SAME TIME END ALL DANGER FROM THE RAVAGES OF DESTRUCTIVE FLOODS, STOP FOREST FIRES, PERPETUATE OUR FOREST RESOURCES, PRESERVE THE FOREST AND WOODLAND COVER ON OUR WATERSHEDS, CREATE A GREAT NATIONAL SYSTEM OF INLAND WATERWAYS, RECLAIM EVERY RECLAIMABLE ACRE OF ARID OR SWAMP AND OVERFLOW LAND IN THE UNITED STATES, AND REDUCE THE COST OF LIVING BY DOUBLING THE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION OF THIS COUNTRY WITHIN TEN years? Would it interest you to know THAT THE DOING OF THE SAME THINGS WOULD END CHILD LABOR, END WOMAN LABOR IN FACTORIES, END UNEMPLOYMENT, END THE WHOLE MULTITUDE OF EVIL AND VICIOUS INFLUENCES THAT ARE DEGENERATING HUMANITY AND DETERIORATING THE RACE IN THE CONGESTED CITIES OF THIS COUNTRY, AND SAFEGUARD THE UNITED STATES AGAINST THE INTERNAL AS WELL as the external dangers that now menace its future welfare? Would it interest you to know THAT THE DOING OF THOSE SAME THINGS WOULD INAUGURATE AN ERA OF BUSINESS PROSPERITY, BASED ON HUMAN WELFARE AND ADVANCEMENT, INSTEAD OF ON HUMAN EXPLOITATION, AND WOULD INSURE THE PERPETUITY OF THAT prosperity? Would it interest you to know THAT THE THINGS WHICH IT IS PROPOSED SHALL BE DONE BY THE UNITED STATES HAVE ALREADY BEEN DONE, PRACTICALLY AND SUCCESSFULLY, BY SWITZERLAND, AUSTRALIA, AND NEW ZEALAND; AND THAT THEY CAN AND WILL BE DONE IN THIS COUNTRY WHENEVER THE PEOPLE WAKE UP AND DECIDE TO DO SOMETHING FOR THEMSELVES INSTEAD OF WAITING FOR somebody else to do it for them. If you doubt any of the foregoing statements, read the book; and you will be convinced of their absolute truth AND YOU WILL BE APPALLED AT THE MAGNITUDE OF THE PREVENTABLE CALAMITY THAT MENACES THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES SOLELY because of their heedlessness, indifference, and refusal to face facts. [Pg ix] [Pg x] [Pg xi] [Pg xii] [Pg xiii] CONTENTS CHAPTER I SHALL THERE BE AN END OF WAR? QUESTION MAY BE ANSWERED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE BY THE UNITED STATES?—FACTS MUST BE MADE KNOWN TO THE PEOPLE—NATIONWIDE EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN IS NECESSARY—EVERY INDIVIDUAL MUST BE AROUSED TO ACTION—APPALLING CONSEQUENCES OF TRIUMPH OF MILITARISM—UNITED STATES MUST LEAD THE WORLD IN ITS OVERTHROW—CANNOT BE DEPENDENT FOR PEACE ON COÖPERATION OF OTHER NATIONS—APPALLING LOSSES MAY RESULT FROM PUBLIC APATHY AND INDIFFERENCE—NECESSITY FOR NATIONAL POLICY FOR FLOOD PREVENTION—NAVAL IS OUT OF BALANCE—OTHER THINGS MORE NEEDED THAN BATTLESHIPS—NATIONALISATION OF MANUFACTURE OF ARMAMENTS AND BATTLESHIPS—THERE MUST BE AN END OF PRIVATE PROFIT FROM SUCH MANUFACTURE—IT inspires militarism and stimulates war. CHAPTER II INADEQUACY OF MILITARIST PLANS FOR NATIONAL DEFENSE MILITARISTS BELIEVE WAR INEVITABLE—URGE UNITED STATES IS UNPREPARED—PEACE ADVOCATES LEAVE TO MILITARISTS ALL PLANS FOR NATIONAL DEFENSE—MILITARISTS HAVE NO ADEQUATE PLAN—ENORMOUS COST OF LARGE STANDING ARMY—MENACE OF A MILITARY DESPOTISM—NO RELIANCE CAN BE PLACED ON STATE MILITIA— IMPRACTICABILITY OF A RESERVE COMPOSED OF MEN WHO HAVE SERVED IN THE REGULAR ARMY—WAR MUST BE RECOGNISED AS A POSSIBILITY—HYPOCRISY OF OPPOSITION TO WAR BY THOSE WHO PROFIT FROM SO-CALLED CIVILIZED WARFARE—PEACE PROPAGANDA MUST BE HARMONIZED WITH NATIONAL DEFENSE—ALL PLANS FAR WORLD PEACE HAVE THUS FAR PROVED FUTILE—UNITED STATES SPENDS ENORMOUS SUMS ON ARMY WITHOUT ANY guarantee of national defense—The Frankenstein of War can be controlled. CHAPTER III IMPREGNABLE DEFENSE AGAINST FOREIGN INVASION PLANS FOR NATIONAL DEFENSE MUST PRIMARILY OPERATE TO PREVENT WAR—REASONS WHY WAR DEPARTMENT WILL NEVER DEVISE SATISFACTORY SYSTEM—MILITARISTS HAVE NO SYMPATHY WITH PEACE MOVEMENT—IT AIMS TO RENDER MILITARY PROFESSION OBSOLETE—STANDING ARMY IS ECONOMIC WASTE OF MONEY AND MEN—IT SHOULD BE A GREAT EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION—CHAIRMAN HAY OF COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AFFAIRS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SHOWS ENORMOUS COST OF STANDING ARMY AND IMPRACTICABILITY OF RESERVE AS PROPOSED BY ARMY OFFICERS—COMPARISON OF MILITARY EXPENDITURES AND RESULTS IN UNITED STATES AND JAPAN— INCREASE OF STANDING ARMY TO 200,000 WOULD BE FUTILE AND UNWARRANTED—EUROPEAN WAR WILL NOT BRING DISARMAMENT—WARNING OF FIELD MARSHAL EARL ROBERTS—STANDING ARMY PROMOTES MILITARY SPIRIT which increases danger of war. CHAPTER IV NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION RESERVE ENLISTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION CORPS IN GOVERNMENT SERVICES IN TIME OF PEACE—TRANSFORMATION OF SAME ORGANIZATION INTO MILITARY FORCE IN TIME OF WAR—NATIONAL FORCES MUST BE ORGANIZED FOR CONFLICT TO SAVE, NOT DESTROY, LIFE AND PROPERTY—FOREST SERVICE AND RECLAMATION SERVICE WORK SHOULD BE DONE BY RESERVISTS ENLISTED IN CONSTRUCTION CORPS—SAME SYSTEM SHOULD BE ADOPTED IN ALL GOVERNMENT SERVICES—CONSTRUCTION RESERVE TO BE SO TRAINED AS TO INSTANTLY BECOME ARMY OF TRAINED SOLDIERS whenever needed—More than work enough in time of peace for a million Reservists—planting forests —FIGHTING FOREST FIRES—PREVENTING FLOODS—IRRIGATING DESERTS—DRAINING SWAMPS—BUILDING HIGHWAYS, WATERWAYS, AND RAILWAYS—IMPORTANCE OF SAFEGUARDING NATION AGAINST DESTRUCTION BY NATURE'S INVADING forces. CHAPTER V ADAPTABILITY OF SYSTEM FOR NATIONAL DEFENSE SWISS MILITARY SYSTEM IDEAL FOR SWITZERLAND—NOT ADAPTED TO UNITED STATES AS A WHOLE—RESERVE OF wage earners impracticable—Their mobilization would cripple industry and cause privation for families —City clerks and factory workers lack physical stamina—A citizen soldiery needed of hardy men like FOUNDERS OF THIS NATION—ANGLO-SAXON STOCK IS DETERIORATING IN CITIES—ONLY REMEDY IS HOMECROFTS FOR WORKINGMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES—OTHERWISE INDUSTRY WILL DESTROY HUMANITY—GREATEST DANGER TO THE CITY OF NEW YORK IS FROM WITHIN—RACIAL DEGENERACY IS MOST SERIOUS MENACE—PATRICIAN CLASS WARNED AGAINST ROMAN SYSTEM WHICH RESULTED IN PROSCRIPTION AND CONFISCATION—THE SPIRIT OF SWITZERLAND SHOULD SWAY THE WORLD—INADEQUATE STANDING ARMY A SERIOUS DANGER—INVITES ATTACK against which it cannot defend—United States Standing Army gives no assurance of national safety. CHAPTER VI Page 1 24 [Pg xiv] 44 74 [Pg xv] 115 MENACE OF ASIATIC COMPETITION AND INVASION JAPANESE INFLUX INTO HAWAII AND PACIFIC COAST STATES—UNEXPECTED INCIDENT LIKE BLOWING UP OF MAINE MIGHT PRECIPITATE CONFLICT—IN THAT EVENT PEACE ADVOCATES AND GOVERNMENTS MIGHT BE POWERLESS TO PREVENT WAR—JAPANESE MERIT THE GOOD WILL OF OTHER NATIONS—REASONS WHY THEY COME TO PACIFIC COAST—JAPAN IS OVERPOPULATED—30,000,000 RURAL PEOPLE ON 12,500,000 ACRES—POPULATION INCREASING 1,000,000 ANNUALLY—MORE JAPANESE IN CALIFORNIA OF MILITARY AGE THAN ENTIRE ARMY OF UNITED STATES—JAPANESE IN SOUTH AMERICA AND MEXICO—UNITED STATES MUST MEET ECONOMIC COMPETITION OF JAPAN—PACIFIC COAST MUST BE SETTLED WITH CAUCASIAN POPULATION THAT WILL CULTIVATE THE SOIL AS JAPANESE WOULD CULTIVATE IT IF IT WERE THEIR COUNTRY—OTHERWISE ARMED CONFLICT WITH JAPAN inevitable. CHAPTER VII JAPAN AND THE COLORADO RIVER VALLEY ANOTHER JAPANESE EMPIRE COULD BE CREATED IN THE DRAINAGE BASIN OF THE COLORADO RIVER—WHAT JAPANESE WOULD DO WITH THAT COUNTRY IF IT WERE JAPANESE TERRITORY—WE WASTE ANNUALLY WATER CONTAINING 357,490,000 TONS OF FERTILIZING MATERIAL—5,000,000 ACRES CAN BE RECLAIMED BETWEEN NEEDLES AND MEXICO—EVERY ACRE WOULD SUPPORT A FAMILY—CLIMATE MAKES GARDENING EQUIVALENT TO HOT HOUSE CULTURE OUT OF DOORS—INEXHAUSTIBLE SUPPLIES OF NITROGEN, PHOSPHATES, AND POTASH FOR FERTILIZER—ENORMOUS POSSIBILITIES OF ELECTRIC POWER DEVELOPMENT—JAPAN WOULD FIGHT THE DESERT AND CONQUEST IT WITH SAME THOROUGHNESS THAT SHE FOUGHT RUSSIA—WOULD DEVELOP VAST COMMERCE FROM COLORADO RIVER AND GULF OF CALIFORNIA—JAPANESE COLONIZATION IN MEXICO—SPIRIT OF SPECULATION RETARDS DEVELOPMENT BY UNITED STATES—WHAT SHOULD BE DONE WITH THE COLORADO RIVER VALLEY— UNITED STATES MUST RECLAIM AND COLONIZE THAT COUNTRY THE SAME AS JAPANESE WOULD DO IF IT BELONGED TO them. CHAPTER VIII STRENGTH OF A HOMECROFT RESERVE A HOMECROFT RESERVE IN SCOTLAND OF ONE MILLION SOLDIERS WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS LAST GREAT WAR— SCOTCH HOMECROFTERS MAKE SUCH SOLDIERS AS THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS AND THE BLACK WATCH—STORY OF THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS—THE SCOTS WERE THE ORIGINAL HOMECROFTERS—THE DESCRIPTION IN "RAIDERLAND" OF THE HOMECROFTS IN GALLOWAY—GRASPING GREED OF INTRENCHED INTERESTS DROVE THE HOMECROFTERS FROM SCOTLAND—SAME INTERESTS NOW BLOCKING DEVELOPMENT IN UNITED STATES— HOMECROFT SYSTEM OF EDUCATION AND LIFE WOULD BREED A RACE OF STALWART SOLDIERS IN UNITED STATES— COULD LEAVE HOME FOR ACTUAL SERVICE WITHOUT DISTURBING INDUSTRIAL CONDITIONS—HOMECROFTERS WOULD BE concentrated FOR TRAINING AND ORGANIZATION—WOULD ELIMINATE ALL DANGER OF MILITARISM OR MILITARY DESPOTISM—COMPARISON IN VALUE OF 1,000,000 TRAINED HOMECROFTERS WITH 1,000,000 IMMIGRANTS— HOMECROFT RESERVE SYSTEM WILL END CHILD LABOR AND WOMAN LABOR IN FACTORIES AND WILL ALSO END unemployment. Chapter IX HOMECROFT RESERVE IN COLORADO RIVER VALLEY UNITED STATES OWNS LAND, WATER AND POWER—DEVELOPMENT BY NATIONAL GOVERNMENT WOULD RESULT IN VAST PROFIT TO IT—AUSTRALIAN SYSTEM OF LAND RECLAMATION AND SETTLEMENT SHOULD BE ADOPTED—ACTION SHOULD BE PROMPT TO FORESTALL FRICTION BETWEEN UNITED STATES AND JAPAN—WILL NEVER HAVE WAR WITH JAPAN EXCEPT AS RESULT OF APATHY AND NEGLECT—UNITED STATE MUST CREATE IN COLORADO RIVER VALLEY DENSE POPULATION SETTLED IN SELF-CONTAINING COMMUNITIES—CHARACTERISTICS OF COUNTRY PARTICULARLY ADAPT IT TO REQUIREMENTS FOR HOMECROFT RESERVE—SAFETY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FROM INVASION WOULD BE INSURED—MILITARY HIGHWAYS TO SAN DIEGO AND LOS ANGELES—DEFENSE OF MEXICAN BORDER— HOMECROFT CAVALRY RESERVE IN NEVADA SIMILAR TO COSSACK CAVALRY SYSTEM—CORRECTION OF MEXICAN BOUNDARY LINE TO INCLUDE MOUTH OF COLORADO RIVER IN THE UNITED STATES—NEW STATE OF SOUTH California to be formed. CHAPTER X CALIFORNIA A REMOTE INSULAR PROVINCE MORE EASILY ACCESSIBLE FROM JAPAN BY SEA THAN FROM UNITED STATES BY LAND, IN CASE OF WAR—MOUNTAIN RANGES BOUND IT NORTH, EAST, AND SOUTH—ALL PLANS FOR DEFENSE OF CALIFORNIA WITH A NAVY OR COAST FORTIFICATIONS ARE FUTILE AND A DELUSION—BOMBARDMENT OF ENGLISH TOWNS AND COMPARISON OF ENGLISH COAST AND CALIFORNIA COAST—JAPAN WOULD, IF WAR WERE DECLARED, SEIZE ALASKA, PHILIPPINES, AND HAWAII—WOULD THEN TRANSPORT AN ARMY OF 200,000 TO CALIFORNIA—RAILROAD TUNNELS AND BRIDGES BEING DESTROYED BY DYNAMITE WOULD RENDER RELIEF BY UNITED STATES IMPOSSIBLE—RELIANCE ON PANAMA CANAL TOO UNCERTAIN—QUICKNESS WITH WHICH OCCUPATION OF CALIFORNIA WOULD BE ACCOMPLISHED BY JAPANESE 135 [Pg xvi] 176 213 [Pg xvii] 247 277 [Pg xviii] —HUGE MILITARY DIFFICULTIES IN THE WAY OF UNITED STATES RECONQUERING IT—MOUNTAIN PASSES WOULD BE FORTIFIED BY JAPANESE—RAILROAD BRIDGES, CULVERTS, AND TUNNELS ACROSS DESERTS WOULD BE DYNAMITED— TO RECAPTURE A SINGLE MOUNTAIN PASS MORE DIFFICULT THAN CAPTURE OF PORT ARTHUR—DEATH AND DESOLATION ARE SUPREME IN THE SOUTHWESTERN DESERTS—JAPANESE WOULD RAPIDLY COLONIZE ALL VACANT LANDS IN CALIFORNIA—THE WAY TO MAKE THE PACIFIC COAST SAFE IS FOR THE UNITED STATES TO COLONIZE IT FIRST WITH A dense population of intensive cultivators of the soil. CHAPTER XI MILITARISM AND THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY MILITARY CASTE ABSORBS TO ITSELF UNDUE POWER—DANGER SEEN IN MILITARY OPPOSITION TO IMPROVED SYSTEM FOR RIVER REGULATION—MILITARY CONTROL OF INLAND WATERWAYS DETRIMENTAL TO COUNTRY—ARMY ENGINEERS WEDDED TO SYSTEM OF "PORK BARREL," POLITICAL, PIECEMEAL APPROPRIATIONS—REASON WHY ARMY METHODS OF EDUCATION HAMPER PROGRESS IN RIVER IMPROVEMENT—MISSISSIPPI RIVER REQUIRES COMPREHENSIVE TREATMENT—NECESSITY FOR SOURCE STREAM CONTROL ON ALL UPPER TRIBUTARIES—WHY THE CALAVERAS RESERVOIR WAS NOT BUILT—BLUNDER IN CONSTRUCTION OF STOCKTON CUTOFF CANAL—WAR MAY BE UNCERTAIN, BUT NECESSITY FOR FIGHT AGAINST FLOODS AND STORMS IS CERTAIN—DESCRIPTION OF A GREAT GULF STORM— COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR PROTECTING LOWER DELTA OF MISSISSIPPI RIVER BY GREAT DIKES LIKE THOSE IN HOLLAND SAFETY FROM FLOODS GUARANTEED BY CONSTRUCTION OF ATCHAFALAYA CONTROLLED OUTLET, WASTEWAY, and Auxiliary flood water channels. CHAPTER XII BENEFITS FROM THE NATIONAL HOMECROFT RESERVE SYSTEM WHAT THIS GENERATION WOULD BEQUEATH TO FUTURE GENERATIONS—UNITED STATES SAFEGUARDED AGAINST INTERNAL DANGERS AND MADE IMPREGNABLE AGAINST ATTACK OR INVASION—NO OTHER PLAN WILL ACCOMPLISH THAT RESULT—SUMMARY OF REASONS WHY HOMECROFT RESERVE SYSTEM WILL ACCOMPLISH IT—COMPARISON OF COST OF LARGER STANDING ARMY AND SAME NUMBER OF HOMECROFT RESERVE—EPITOME OF ADVANTAGES OF A HOMECROFT RESERVE FROM THE STANDPOINT OF PEACE—HOMECROFT RESERVE SYSTEM MUST BE EVOLVED GRADUALLY—RAPID DEVELOPMENT WOULD FOLLOW WHEN SYSTEM ONCE WELL ESTABLISHED—THIS IS ILLUSTRATED BY GROWTH OF RURAL MAIL SERVICE, ELECTRIC LIGHTING, AËRIAL NAVIGATION, AND TELEPHONE—WHERE THE FIRST 100,000 HOMECROFT RESERVISTS SHOULD BE LOCATED—50,000 RESERVISTS IN CALIFORNIA, 50,000 IN LOUISIANA, 80,000 IN WEST VIRGINIA, AND 10,000 IN MINNESOTA—SPECIFICATION OF APPORTIONMENT TO PROJECTS OF THE $100,000,000 THAT WOULD BE SAVED FROM MILITARY EXPENDITURES FOR INCREASED STANDING ARMY—HOMECROFT FINANCIAL SYSTEM PROPOSED—HOMECROFT CERTIFICATES TO BE ISSUED—ADVANTAGES OF THE HOMECROFT RESERVE SYSTEM TO THE HOMECROFTER—ECONOMIC POWER CREATED FOR THE NATION WOULD result in Universal Peace. OUR NATIONAL DEFENSE THE PATRIOTISM OF PEACE CHAPTER I Shall there be an end of war, and of all danger or possibility of war in the future, not only in this, but in all other countries, and shall we have universal peace on earth through all the coming centuries? THAT IS THE MOST MOMENTOUS QUESTION THAT HAS EVER CONFRONTED ANY NATION IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD. THE UNITED STATES of America stands face to face with it to-day, and can answer the question in the affirmative, if the people of this country so determine. ON THEIR DECISION DEPENDS, NOT ONLY THE SAFETY AND PERPETUITY OF THIS NATION, AND THE WELFARE OF OUR OWN PEOPLE, BUT THE welfare of all the other nations and peoples of the earth as well, through all future time. The question will have been answered in the affirmative whenever the plan proposed in this book shall have been adopted by the people of the United States. Its adoption will strengthen every plan that can be devised to prevent war. It will vitalize the influence of this nation in behalf of peace. It will make the nation impregnable in case of war, if, notwithstanding all efforts to prevent it, war should come. 301 [Pg xix] 335 [Pg 1] [Pg 2] IN THE GREAT CRISIS THROUGH WHICH CIVILIZATION IS NOW PASSING, THE UNITED STATES ALONE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE POWER TO EMANCIPATE HUMANITY FROM MILITARISM, AND PREVENT IT FROM EVER AGAIN BEING DRAWN INTO THE MAELSTROM OF WAR. UNLESS that is done, liberty, the world over, will be slowly submerged by the subtle and insidious growth of military power in the affairs of government, and our present civilization will ultimately go the way of all the civilizations of the past. IF, ON THE OTHER HAND, THIS COUNTRY RISES TO THE OPPORTUNITY, AND PROVIDES A SYSTEM OF NATIONAL DEFENSE WHICH WILL NOT ONLY SAFEGUARD THE NATION AGAINST FOREIGN INVASION OR INTERNAL CONFLICT, BUT WILL ALSO AT THE SAME TIME PROMOTE HUMAN advancement, INSURE ALL THE BLESSINGS OF PEACE TO THE PEOPLE, AND CHECK THE GROWTH OF MILITARISM, WE WILL ESTABLISH A civilization that will endure as long as the human race can inhabit the earth. THE FIRST THING THAT MUST BE DONE TO ACHIEVE THAT BOON FOR HUMANITY IS TO AROUSE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES TO A realization of the fact that the settlement of this great question cannot be left by anyone to somebody else. EVERY MAN AND EVERY WOMAN, THE LENGTH AND BREADTH OF THE LAND, MUST ENLIST IN A GREAT NATIONAL CAMPAIGN OF EDUCATION TO get the real facts and all the facts into the minds of the people. "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." This is a government, not so much by the people as by the thought of the people. RIGHT THOUGHT MUST PRECEDE RIGHT ACTION. KNOWLEDGE MUST GO BEFORE RIGHT THOUGHT. THE PEOPLE CANNOT THINK RIGHT UNTIL they know the facts, and they must study and understand and analyze those facts and face them squarely. THAT CAN BE BROUGHT ABOUT ONLY BY A NATION-WIDE CAMPAIGN IN WHICH EVERY PATRIOTIC CITIZEN MUST PARTICIPATE. EACH MUST first learn the facts himself and then carry the knowledge to others—drive it home to them and stir them to action. To every reader of this book let it be said, as a personal message: When you have read this book, do not lay it down with the thought: "Yes, that is a good idea. I hope somebody will succeed in getting it done." BUCKLE ON YOUR OWN ARMOR AND HELMET, LIFT UP YOUR OWN SWORD AND SHIELD, AND GO RIGHT OUT INTO YOUR OWN COMMUNITY AND MAKE CONVERTS YOURSELF, WHO ARE WILLING NOT ONLY TO THINK BUT TO ACT AND TO do things themselves, TO LIFT THE deepening shadow of militarism from this nation, and rescue the world from the barbarism of war. THE SOULS OF THE PEOPLE MUST BE SET ON FIRE TO FIGHT A GREAT BATTLE FOR PEACE AND TO SAVE THE IDEALS AND TRADITIONS OF OUR forefathers from being submerged under the rising tide of militarism. THAT BATTLE MUST BE FOUGHT WITH VOICE AND PEN AGAINST IGNORANCE, INDIFFERENCE, AND EVERY POWERFUL INTEREST INTRENCHED IN selfish opposition to human advancement. POPULAR INTEREST MUST BE STIRRED TO ITS DEPTHS TO CREATE AN IRRESISTIBLE WAVE OF PUBLIC SENTIMENT THAT WILL SWEEP AWAY ALL opposition to the necessary expenditures and legislation. EVERY MAN WHO WOULD BE WILLING TO SERVE HIS COUNTRY IN TIME OF WAR MUST BE ENLISTED TO SERVE IT IN TIME OF PEACE, BY fighting in advance of war to safeguard against it and ultimately end it forever. EVERY WOMAN WHO WANTS THE MENACE OF WAR LIFTED FROM THE LIVES OF THE WOMEN OF THE WORLD MUST SHOW THE FAITH THAT IS IN HER BY PUTTING HER WHOLE HEART AND SOUL INTO THE WORK OF ENLISTING HER OWN COMMUNITY IN THIS GREAT MOVEMENT TO DO AWAY WITH WAR, AND TO SAVE THE WOMEN OF THE FUTURE FROM THE INHUMAN CRUELTIES AND HEART-BREAKING AGONIES THAT WAR HAS brought upon them in the past. THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY MUST STUBBORNLY STAND THEIR GROUND TO CHECK THE FUTURE ADVANCE OF MILITARISM IN THE UNITED STATES. FOR YEARS IT HAS BEEN STEALTHILY GAINING, WHILE THE PEOPLE AT LARGE HAVE PAID NO HEED. MILITARY EXPENDITURES HAVE GROWN LARGER AND LARGER—THEY HAVE TREBLED WITHIN A GENERATION—AND THE PEOPLE HAVE VOICED NO VIGOROUS PROTEST. They have been "asleep at the switch." THERE MUST BE AN END OF THIS INDIFFERENCE OF THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE, WHO HAVE BEEN SELFISHLY AND SELF-COMPLACENTLY ATTENDING TO THEIR OWN AFFAIRS WHILE THE WORLD HAS BEEN DRIFTING INTO A BLOODY WELTER OF WAR. IT IS ONLY BY CHANCE THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS NOT ALREADY BEEN DRAWN INTO IT. COMPLICATIONS MAY AT ANY TIME ARISE WHICH WILL INVOLVE THIS NATION IN war. AN INTEREST MUST BE AWAKENED AS TENSE AND VIVID AND ALL-COMPELLING AS WOULD BE INSTANTLY AROUSED BY AN ACTUAL INVASION OF THE UNITED STATES BY A FOREIGN ENEMY, AND IT MUST BE AWAKENED FAR IN ADVANCE OF THAT INVASION, TO MAKE SURE THAT IT never happens. FOR NEARLY TWO THOUSAND YEARS THE GENTLE ADMONITION "ON EARTH PEACE, GOOD WILL TOWARD MEN" HAS BEEN THE IDEAL which the human race has been struggling to attain. And after all these centuries we are in the midst of the most bloody and destructive war the world has ever known. Civilization has crashed backwards into the abyss of barbarism, in Europe at least, and no one can foresee the end. [Pg 3] [Pg 4] [Pg 5] [Pg 6] [Pg 7] IN THE UNITED STATES THE TREND IS IN THE SAME DIRECTION. THIS COUNTRY WILL SOON BECOME A GREAT MILITARY NATION IF THE present tendency is not sharply checked. MERE IGNORANCE AND INDIFFERENCE ON THE PART OF THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES MUST NOT BE ALLOWED TO STAND IN THE WAY OF THE ADOPTION OF THE NATIONAL POLICY ADVOCATED IN THIS BOOK—A POLICY THAT WILL BRING PERMANENT AND ENDURING UNIVERSAL peace to the world. THAT POLICY MUST BE ADOPTED. THERE CAN BE NO ALTERNATIVE. THE FINAL TRIUMPH OF MILITARISM WOULD BE TOO APPALLING TO contemplate. MUST EVERY WOMAN WHO BEARS A SON LIVE UNDER THE TERROR THAT SHE MAY HAVE TO DEDICATE HIM TO BE MANGLED IN THE service of the War God? Must every home remain liable to be ruined and destroyed by the fires of war? Must every fair and beautiful garden-land continue to be subject to the menace of devastation by marching armies or the bloody ruin of the battlefields? MUST THE FLOWER OF THE WORLD'S MANHOOD CONTINUE TO BE FLUNG INTO THE JAWS OF DEATH TO SATIATE THE BLOOD LUST OF militarism? MUST THE WHEELS OF INDUSTRY TURN, AND THE SWEAT OF HUMAN LABOR, FOR ALL TIME, BE GIVEN TO MAKE MACHINERY FOR HUMAN slaughter? Is there no inspiration to patriotism that will move the people to action but the death combat? IS THERE NO GLORY TO BE WON, THAT WILL STIR HEART AND BRAIN TO SUPREME EFFORT, EXCEPT BY CAUSING HUMAN AGONY AND devastation? IS THERE NOTHING ELSE THAT WILL BRING OUT THE BEST THERE IS IN MEN BUT THE STIMULUS OF WAR, AND ITS DEMANDS FOR SACRIFICE, even of life itself? IS THERE NO HIGHER SERVICE TO THEIR COUNTRY TO WHICH WOMEN CAN GIVE THEIR MEN THAN TO DIE FIGHTING TO KILL THE MEN OF OTHER women? MUST THIS NATION, AS WELL AS OTHERS, SO IMPOVERISH ITSELF BY WAR AND PREPARATION FOR WAR THAT NOTHING IS LEFT TO PAY FOR protecting itself against Nature's destroying forces, flood and fire and waste of the country's basic resources? THE INTELLIGENT AND PATRIOTIC MEN AND WOMEN OF THE UNITED STATES WOULD ANSWER EVERY ONE OF THESE QUESTIONS, WITH ALL THE FERVOR OF THEIR BEING, IN THE WAY THEY MUST BE ANSWERED TO SAVE CIVILIZATION, IF THE QUESTIONS COULD BE PUT TO THEM, FACE TO FACE, BY ANYONE WHO WAS READY TO SHOW THEM WHAT TO DO TO MAKE GOOD THAT ANSWER AND TRANSFORM THE DESIRE into actual accomplishment. WE MUST THEREFORE ARM THE MULTITUDE WITH THE FACTS AND BURN INTO THEIR MINDS THE CLEAR-CUT DEFINITE VISION OF THE PLAN THAT must be carried out to make certain that accomplishment. THAT PLAN MUST PROVIDE THAT WE SHALL FIRST DO THE THINGS WHICH THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY CAN DO BY THEMSELVES ALONE without saying "by your leave" or "with your help" to any other nation. THE INFLUENCE OF THE ADOPTION OF A RIGHT NATIONAL POLICY BY THE UNITED STATES WILL DRAW THE WORLD INTO THE CURRENT AS SOON AS ITS PRACTICABILITY AND BENEFITS TO HUMANITY HAVE BEEN PROVED, BUT WE MUST NOT BEGIN WITH A PLAN THAT WILL FAIL UNLESS adopted by all the great powers of the world. WE CANNOT ALLOW THE SUCCESS OF OUR OWN BASIC PLAN FOR PEACE, and for safeguarding this nation against war, TO depend on the coöperation of any other nation. THAT HAS BEEN THE DIFFICULTY WITH NEARLY EVERY PLAN HERETOFORE PROPOSED FOR THE PERMANENT ESTABLISHMENT OF PEACE throughout the world. The agreement of all the nations could not be had, and without such agreement the plan was futile. Disarmament or the limitation of armaments is impracticable without the consent of all the great powers. Nationalization of the manufacture of armaments, if it is to be a world-wide influence, must have world-wide adoption. No plan for a peace tribunal can be successfully made effective without all nations agreeing to abide by its decrees. And then it will fail unless given power to enforce its decrees. That power will never be vested in it by the nations, not in this generation at least. All plans for arbitration rest on the same insecure foundation. ARBITRATION VOLUNTARILY OF ANY ONE CONTROVERSY BETWEEN NATIONS IS PRACTICABLE, WHERE CONSENT IS EXPRESSLY GIVEN TO arbitrate that particular controversy. BUT A GENERAL PLAN BASED ON AN AGREEMENT MADE IN ADVANCE TO ARBITRATE ALL FUTURE UNKNOWN CONTROVERSIES WOULD BE [Pg 8] [Pg 9] [Pg 10] [Pg 11] unenforceable and would afford no assurance of peace. THE PLAN FOR AN INTERNATIONAL FORCE, EITHER ARMY OR NAVY, IS TOO REMOTE A POSSIBILITY TO BE DEPENDED ON NOW FOR PRACTICAL results. AGITATION OF THESE PROJECTS IS COMMENDABLE AND SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED, BUT WE CANNOT WAIT FOR THEIR ADOPTION TO SET OUR own house in order and insure its safety. IN FRAMING A NATIONAL POLICY OF PEACE FOR THE UNITED STATES, WE MUST CONSTANTLY AND CLEARLY DRAW THE LINE OF DISTINCTION between the deep-seated original causes of war, and causes which are secondary, or merely precipitating incidents. THE ASSASSINATION OF THE AUSTRIAN ARCHDUKE IN SARAJEVO PRECIPITATED THE PRESENT WAR, BUT IT WAS NOT THE CAUSE OF THE war. FUNDAMENTALLY, THAT CAUSE WAS THE CHECK IMPOSED BY OTHER NATIONS ON THE EXPANSION OF THE GERMAN EMPIRE. THE necessity for that expansion resulted from the rapid increase in the population, trade, and national wealth of Germany. THE SAME PROBLEM FACES THE UNITED STATES WITH REFERENCE TO JAPAN AND WE CANNOT EVADE IT BY ANY SCHEME FOR ARBITRATION OR DISARMAMENT. WE MUST SQUARELY FACE AND SOLVE THE ECONOMIC PROBLEMS THAT LIE AT THE BOTTOM OF ALL possible conflict between this nation and Japan. A LIGHTED MATCH MAY BE THROWN INTO A KEG OF GUNPOWDER AND AN EXPLOSION RESULT. IT MIGHT BE SAID THAT THE MATCH CAUSED the explosion. In one sense it did—but it was not the match that exploded. AND GUNPOWDER MUST BE PROTECTED AGAINST MATCHES, IF EXPLOSIONS ARE TO BE AVOIDED. SO WITH NATIONAL CONTROVERSIES. THE ECONOMIC CAUSES MUST BE CONTROLLED, AND CONFLICT AVOIDED BY ACTION TAKEN LONG IN ADVANCE OF A CONDITION OF ACTUAL controversy. IN OUR DEALINGS WITH JAPAN, AS WILL BE SHOWN HEREAFTER, WE ARE SITTING ON AN OPEN KEG OF GUNPOWDER, LIGHTING MATCHES apparently without the remotest idea of the danger, or of the way to eliminate it. BUT THE SITUATION ON THE PACIFIC COAST WITH REFERENCE TO JAPAN IS NOT THE FIRST INSTANCE OF SIMILAR RISKS THAT HAVE BEEN RUN with most appalling losses as a consequence. THE DANGER OF AN EARTHQUAKE IN SAN FRANCISCO WAS KNOWN TO EVERYBODY. LIKEWISE IT MUST HAVE BEEN KNOWN, IF THE SLIGHTEST THOUGHT HAD BEEN GIVEN TO IT, THAT AN EARTHQUAKE MIGHT DISRUPT THE WATER SYSTEM OF THE CITY AND MAKE IT impossible to quench a fire that might be started by an earthquake. AS SAN FRANCISCO IS NOW HEEDLESS OF THE NEED FOR A POLICY THAT WILL REALLY SETTLE THE JAPANESE TROUBLE, INSTEAD OF AGGRAVATING IT, SO SHE WAS HEEDLESS OF THE EARTHQUAKE DANGER. THAT HEEDLESSNESS COST THE CITY $300,000,000 IN ENTIRELY UNNECESSARY DAMAGE CAUSED BY FIRE. SAN FRANCISCO WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE, NOT BY THE EARTHQUAKE. THE EARTHQUAKE WAS unavoidable, the fire was wholly preventable. THAT SORT OF HEEDLESSNESS IS TYPICAL OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. BUSY WITH THE PRESENT, THEY TAKE NO THOUGHT OF THE FUTURE. EVERY CITY IN THE UNITED STATES WHICH IS LIABLE IN ANY YEAR TO A GREAT FLOOD, IS EQUALLY LIABLE TO A GREAT FIRE—A FIRE WHICH MIGHT AS COMPLETELY DESTROY IT AS THE SAN FRANCISCO FIRE DESTROYED THAT CITY, BECAUSE, OWING TO THE FLOOD, ALL THE MEANS provided for fire protection when there is no flood, would be rendered useless by the flood. YET EVERY SUCH FLOOD-MENACED CITY IN THE UNITED STATES STOLIDLY RUNS THE RISK. NO GENERAL PRECAUTIONS ARE TAKEN TO PREVENT SUCH DESTRUCTION, THOUGH IT MUST BE RECOGNIZED AS BEING POSSIBLE AT ANY TIME. GREAT FLOODS WILL RARELY FOLLOW ONE ANOTHER IN THE SAME PLACE. FOR THIS REASON, FLOOD PROTECTION FOR A CITY WHICH HAS ALREADY SUFFERED FROM A DISASTROUS FLOOD, LIKE DAYTON, IS NO MORE IMPORTANT THAN SIMILAR PROTECTION FOR ALL OTHER FLOOD-MENACED CITIES. THE ONLY WAY TO safeguard against FLOODS, AND THE CONSEQUENT RISK OF FIRE LOSSES IN FLOOD-MENACED CITIES, IS THAT all such cities SHOULD BE completely protected against floods, under a nation-wide policy for flood protection and prevention. WHEN APPEAL IS MADE TO CONGRESS FOR LEGISLATION PROVIDING FOR SUCH A POLICY AND FOR THE APPROPRIATIONS NECESSARY TO MAKE IT EFFECTIVE, WE ARE TOLD THAT SO MUCH MONEY IS REQUIRED FOR MILITARY EXPENDITURES THAT NONE CAN BE SPARED FOR protection against floods. ARE WE TO GO ON FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS DOING AS WE HAVE DONE IN THE LAST TEN, AND SPEND ANOTHER BILLION DOLLARS FOR THE army and fortifications, while floods ravage unchecked? IF WE HAD BEEN GETTING ACTUAL PROTECTION FROM FOREIGN INVASION FOR THAT BILLION DOLLARS, THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN SOME JUSTIFICATION FOR ITS EXPENDITURE; BUT WE ARE GETTING NEITHER PROTECTION FROM FOREIGN INVASION NOR PROTECTION FROM FLOOD invasion. THE FACT THAT THE PEOPLE OF THE COUNTRY AT LARGE GIVE NO HEED WHATEVER TO THE RISK OF TREMENDOUS LOSSES OF LIFE AND property BY FLOOD, ARISES FROM A FIXED HABIT OF APATHETIC INDIFFERENCE, AND THE FACT THAT NO COMMERCIAL INTEREST PUSHES steadily in behalf of flood protection. THERE IS MONEY TO BE MADE, AND LARGE DIVIDENDS MAY BE EARNED, BY FURNISHING INSURANCE AGAINST FIRE. CONSEQUENTLY THE OWNER OF EVERY BUILDING IN EVERY CITY IS CONSTANTLY REMINDED BY INSURANCE AGENTS OF THE IMPORTANCE AND NECESSITY OF FIRE INSURANCE. THIS HAS BEEN DONE UNTIL PUBLIC EDUCATION, STIMULATED BY PRIVATE PROFIT, HAS CREATED A HABIT OF THOUGHT WHICH [Pg 12] [Pg 13] [Pg 14] [Pg 15] [Pg 16] INSTINCTIVELY RECOGNIZES THE DANGER OF FIRE, AND INSURES AGAINST IT. THE PROPERTY OWNER WHO NOW FAILS TO CARRY FIRE insurance is commonly regarded as assuming an unwarranted risk. THE SAME CONDITIONS EXIST FROM A NATIONAL POINT OF VIEW WITH REFERENCE TO WAR. WE BUILD BATTLESHIPS, FOR EXAMPLE, LARGELY BECAUSE THERE IS A HUGE PRIVATE PROFIT MADE THEREFROM, WHICH WARRANTS A NATION-WIDE PROPAGANDA TO EDUCATE AND SUSTAIN A FAVORABLE PUBLIC SENTIMENT. THE PROFIT IS LARGE ENOUGH TO PERMIT OF PROPITIATING TROUBLESOME OPPOSITION BY ENDOWING peace PALACES. THAT IS A GRUESOME AND GHASTLY HYPOCRISY THAT MUST COME TO AN END, IF THE WORLD IS EVER TO ATTAIN TO universal peace. THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD, IF IT NEEDS THEM, BUILD ITS OWN BATTLESHIPS; BUT THE FIRST THING IT SHOULD DO, BEFORE IT BUILDS ANY MORE BATTLESHIPS, IS TO PROVIDE FOR ITS OTHER MORE PRESSING NAVAL REQUIREMENTS, SUCH AS TRAINED MEN, TARGET PRACTICE, TRANSPORTS, COALING STATIONS WITH ADEQUATE COAL SUPPLIES, SWIFT CRUISERS, TORPEDO BOATS, SUBMARINES, AËROPLANES, AND ammunition. AFTER ALL THAT HAS BEEN DONE, IF IT IS MADE THE LAW OF THE LAND THAT DIVIDENDS SHALL NO LONGER BE EARNED BY PRIVATE CORPORATIONS FROM BUILDING BATTLESHIPS OR FROM MANUFACTURING ARMOR PLATE, IT MIGHT BE FOUND THAT NO MORE BATTLESHIPS OUGHT TO BE BUILT. BY THAT TIME NAVAL EXPERTS MAY HAVE AGREED THAT, AS AGAINST TORPEDOES AND AËROPLANES, BATTLESHIPS ARE too uncertain a defense, and may have decided that we need something else. A BATTLESHIP COSTS ANYWHERE FROM TEN TO TWENTY MILLION DOLLARS, AND THEY ARE TOO EXPENSIVE TO BE BUILT FOR EXPERIMENT OR ornament. THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES HAVE BEEN RELYING ON BATTLESHIPS FOR COAST DEFENSE, BUT ALL BRITAIN'S BATTLESHIPS DID NOT PROTECT SCARBOROUGH OR HARTLEPOOL OR WHITBY. NEITHER HAVE THE BATTLESHIPS BEEN ABLE TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM torpedoes, mines, or submarines. CONGRESS IS A MIRROR. IT MERELY REFLECTS PUBLIC SENTIMENT. SO LONG AS THE NEED FOR BATTLESHIPS AND MORE BATTLESHIPS—FOR BIGGER AND STILL BIGGER BATTLESHIPS—IS CONSTANTLY DINGED INTO THE EARS OF THE PEOPLE BY THE PROFIT-TAKERS FROM THE GOVERNMENT, JUST THAT LONG WILL PUBLIC SENTIMENT, AND THE LEGISLATION AND APPROPRIATIONS THAT RESPOND TO IT, BE WARPED AND ONE SIDED. OUR NAVY WILL CONTINUE TO BE TOP HEAVY WITH DREADNOUGHTS, AND INADEQUATE ATTENTION WILL BE PAID TO THE OTHER things necessary for a symmetrically equipped and efficient naval defense. WHEN PRIVATE PROFITS FOR BUILDING BATTLESHIPS SHALL HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED, CONGRESS WILL NO LONGER SKIMP APPROPRIATIONS TO man the battleships we now have, or for other naval equipment, in order to build more dreadnoughts. AFTER THIS WAR, IT OUGHT TO BE POSSIBLE TO CONDUCT TO SUCCESS A NATION-WIDE, AND POSSIBLY A WORLD-WIDE PROPAGANDA TO end forever the earning of dividends from human slaughter. THAT IS THE ISSUE, BLUNTLY AND PLAINLY STATED, AND THOSE WHO PROFIT BY MANUFACTURING THE MACHINERY OF WAR MUST FACE IT squarely. The time will come,—it is to be hoped it is near at hand,—when they will be held in the same estimation as are nowadays the pirates who forced their victims to walk the plank. OVER-PREPAREDNESS, AS WELL AS UNPREPAREDNESS, MAY PRECIPITATE A WAR. THE CAUSES OF THE PRESENT EUROPEAN WAR WERE, HOWEVER, MORE DEEPLY ROOTED THAN THAT. IT WAS INEVITABLE THAT THEY WOULD SOME DAY RESULT IN WAR. BUT THE WAR WOULD NOT HAVE COME AT THIS TIME IF GERMANY HAD NOT THOUGHT ENGLAND UNPREPARED. NOR WOULD IT HAVE COME IF GERMANY HAD NOT BEEN, AS SHE SUPPOSED, INVINCIBLE, BECAUSE ARMED TO THE TEETH BY CORPORATIONS LIKE THE KRUPPS THAT MAKE WAR AND THE machinery for it the source of stupendous private profits and accumulated wealth. THE GROWING TEMPTATION TO CREATE SIMILAR CONDITIONS IN THIS COUNTRY MUST BE FOREVER STRANGLED. AFTER THE CLOSE OF THIS WAR, THE FIELDS OF BATTLE IN EUROPE MUST BE CLEARED OF WAR'S DEVASTATIONS, AND IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA THE FIELD OF INDUSTRY MUST BE CLEARED OF ALL TEMPTATION FOR OUR MERCHANTS AND MANUFACTURERS TO BECOME SLAUGHTERERS BY WHOLESALE OF HUMAN BEINGS—MURDERERS AND MANGLERS OF WHOLE BATTALIONS OF THEIR FELLOWMEN—SLAYERS OF THE FATHERS, BROTHERS, HUSBANDS, AND SONS OF MILLIONS OF WOMEN. THAT IS WHAT THEY BECOME WHEN FOR MONEY THEY FURNISH THE MEANS WHEREBY IT is done, or is to be in future done, by this or any other country. IT IS FAR BETTER THAT CAPITAL SHOULD BE IDLE AND LABOR UNEMPLOYED THAN THAT EITHER SHOULD BE USED TO PROMOTE DEATH AND DEVASTATION IN RETURN FOR DIVIDENDS OR WAGES. ALL AVAILABLE CAPITAL AND LABOR CAN FIND OCCUPATION IN DOING THINGS THAT WILL PROMOTE HUMAN WELFARE. TO THE EXTENT THAT THE MACHINERY OF WAR MAY BE NEEDED BY ANY GOVERNMENT, IT SHOULD BE MANUFACTURED FOR ITS OWN USE BY THAT GOVERNMENT, AND NEVER BY ANY PRIVATE CONCERN OR CORPORATION FOR PROFIT. A WORLD MOVEMENT TO THAT END IS BEING ORGANIZED AND EVERY PATRIOTIC CITIZEN SHOULD BEAR A HAND TO PROMOTE ITS SUCCESS. THE United States has the opportunity to be the first nation to adopt this advanced and peace-promoting national policy. WHENEVER WE HAVE PUT AN END TO THE MAKING OF PRIVATE PROFIT FROM THE MANUFACTURE OF BATTLESHIPS AND MACHINERY OF WAR FOR OUR GOVERNMENT, WE WILL BE RELIEVED OF MUCH OF THE PERSISTENT PRESSURE TO MAKE OUR NAVY TOP HEAVY WITH DREADNOUGHTS, AND TO STEADILY INCREASE OUR NAVAL AND MILITARY EXPENDITURES. MORE THAN THAT, WE WILL THEN BE ABLE TO GET FULL, FAIR, AND UNPREJUDICED CONSIDERATION, BY THE PEOPLE AT LARGE, OF EVERY QUESTION RELATING TO WAR OR PEACE, OR TO OUR own preparedness for war, or the extent of the necessity for such preparedness. NOW THE PEOPLE KNOW ONLY A PART OF THE FACTS ON WHICH A COMPREHENSIVE JUDGMENT SHOULD BE BASED. THEY HAVE BEEN URGED TO DO THE THINGS WHICH, IF DONE, WOULD RESULT IN PROFIT TO THE MANUFACTURERS OF BATTLESHIPS OR MACHINERY OF WAR. KNOWING THIS, MANY PEOPLE GO TO THE OTHER EXTREME AND OPPOSE EVERYTHING IN THE WAY OF AN ADEQUATE MILITARY OR NAVAL [Pg 17] [Pg 18] [Pg 19] [Pg 20] [Pg 21] [Pg 22] SYSTEM. THIS TENDS TO ENDANGER THE NATION BY UNPREPAREDNESS, JUST AS THE MILITARISTS WOULD ENDANGER IT BY OVER- PREPAREDNESS, OR A ONE-SIDED AND UNBALANCED PREPAREDNESS, LIKE HAVING BATTLESHIPS WITHOUT OTHER THINGS EVEN MORE necessary for naval defense. THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD MANUFACTURE FOR ITSELF ALL THE MACHINERY NEEDED BY IT FOR WAR ON LAND OR SEA. ITS MANUFACTURE BY ANYONE ELSE SHOULD BE PROHIBITED BY LAW. BUT IT DOES NOT BY ANY MEANS FOLLOW THAT THE GOVERNMENT ITSELF SHOULD REFRAIN FROM MANUFACTURING IT, UNDER THE CONDITIONS THAT NOW PREVAIL IN THE WORLD. NEITHER DOES IT FOLLOW THAT THERE WILL BE NO MORE WARS. NOR AGAIN DOES IT FOLLOW THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD FAIL TO BE AT ALL TIMES ADEQUATELY PREPARED FOR WAR. ON the contrary, the possibility of war should be fully recognized and national defense should not be neglected. UNDER THE CONDITIONS THAT SURROUND THIS COUNTRY TO-DAY, NO NATION SHOULD MORE CAREFULLY THAN OURS SAFEGUARD AGAINST THE DANGER OF UNPREPAREDNESS. THE UNITED STATES SHOULD BE, NOT UNPREPARED, BUT FULLY PREPARED, AND THAT CAN ONLY BE accomplished by carrying out the plan advocated in this book, for both immediate and ultimate national defense. THE ASSUMPTION THAT THIS COUNTRY WILL NEVER BE INVOLVED IN A FOREIGN WAR IS ONE WHICH EVERY FACT OF HISTORY, EVERY TRAIT OF HUMAN CHARACTER, AND EVERY PROBABILITY OF THE FUTURE PROVES TO BE UNWARRANTED, UNLESS MEASURES ARE TAKEN AND THINGS DONE FOR NATIONAL PROTECTION, AND FOR THE PRESERVATION OF PEACE, THAT ARE AS YET NOT EVEN CONTEMPLATED BY THE PEOPLE OF this country. THE COST OF THOSE MEASURES IS SO SMALL, IN COMPARISON WITH THE ENORMOUS LOSSES THIS COUNTRY WOULD SUFFER IF IT BECAME INVOLVED IN A FOREIGN WAR, THAT TO FOREGO THEM BECAUSE OF THE COST INVOLVED WOULD BE AS UNWISE AS TO FAIL TO EQUIP A passenger steamer with life preservers as a matter of economy. CHAPTER II Advocates of Peace present no plan for national defense in case of war. They leave it to the Militarists to provide for that contingency. The Militarists have proposed no adequate plan for national defense. No plan has been evolved, other than that urged in this book, which would in all emergencies safeguard the nation against war, and at the same time be in sympathy with and strengthen every movement to promote peace. To make this clear, the various schools of thought on the subject should be classified, and their views briefly outlined. ON THE ONE HAND WE HAVE THE Militarists. THEY CONSTANTLY CLAMOR FOR A BIGGER NAVY AND A LARGER ARMY ON THE GROUND that we are unprepared for war—unarmed, unready, undefended—and that war is liable to occur at any time. ON THE OTHER HAND WE HAVE THE Passivists. THEY HAVE THE COURAGE OF THEIR CONVICTIONS. BELIEVING IN PEACE, THEY OPPOSE WAR, AND ALL THE MEANS WHEREBY IT IS MADE. HAVING FAITH IN MORAL INFLUENCE, THEY OPPOSE ARMAMENTS. THEY ARE CONSISTENT, AND URGE THAT THIS NATION SHOULD DISARM AND CHECK MILITARY EXPENDITURES. IN THEIR PEACE PROPAGANDA BEFORE THE PEOPLE they have squarely and honestly contended for this national policy for which they deserve infinite credit. In case of war, they have no plan. They leave that to the Militarists. BETWEEN THESE TWO EXTREMES WE HAVE THE Pacificists. THEY DEPLORE WAR AND TALK FOR PEACE, BUT BELIEVE IN BUILDING BATTLESHIPS. THEY ARGUE FOR ARBITRATION AND ADVOCATE DISARMAMENT, BUT HAVE NOT OPPOSED STEADILY INCREASING APPROPRIATIONS FOR NAVAL AND MILITARY EXPENDITURES BY THE UNITED STATES. THEY JUSTIFY THIS POSITION ON THE PLEA THAT THE BEST GUARANTEE AGAINST WAR IS AN ARMY AND NAVY. THEY OPPOSE WAR BUT NOT APPROPRIATIONS FOR WAR. THEY HOLD PEACE CONFERENCES AND PASS PEACE RESOLUTIONS, BUT DO NOT GO BEFORE THE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS AND OBJECT TO EXPENDITURES FOR ARMAMENTS AND MILITARISM. IN THIS CLASS BELONG ALL PEACE ADVOCATES WHO ARE BUILDERS OF BATTLESHIPS OR MANUFACTURERS of armor plate or armaments, and their associates. THIS SUGGESTS THE QUESTION WHETHER SUCH A MANUFACTURER IS A SAFE PILOT FOR A PEACE MOVEMENT, HOWEVER GENEROUSLY IT MAY BE SUBSIDIZED, AND WHETHER AN ARMOR-PLATE MILL AND A PEACE PALACE ARE APPROPRIATE TRACE-MATES. IT WOULD BE UNFORTUNATE IF THE SUBTLE INFLUENCE OF SUBCONSCIOUS SELF-INTEREST SHOULD CREEP INTO PEACE COUNCILS OR AFFECT THE POLICY OF A PEACE MOVEMENT. HOWEVER THAT MAY BE, THE THEORY THAT ARMAMENTS PREVENT WAR HAS BEEN PRETTY WELL EXPLODED BY recent events. The Pacificists, in case of war, have no plan of their own to propose. They, too, leave that to the Militarists. Then we have the Pacificators. THEY ADVOCATE DISARMAMENT AND A TRIBUNAL OF PEACE IN THE NATURE OF AN INTERNATIONAL COURT TO DETERMINE INTERNATIONAL DIFFERENCES AND MAKE BINDING DECREES; AND THEY PROPOSE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INTERNATIONAL ARMY AND NAVY UNDER THE CONTROL OF THAT COURT TO ENFORCE ITS DECREES. OF COURSE IT MUST BE CONCEDED THAT THIS PLAN MAY FAIL, OR ITS SUCCESS BE LONG delayed, and that in the meantime it affords no guarantee of peace. [Pg 23] [Pg 24] [Pg 25] [Pg 26] [Pg 27] The Pacificators, however, propose no plan in the event of war. They also leave that to the Militarists. FINALLY COMES THE WOMAN'S MOVEMENT FOR CONSTRUCTIVE PEACE, OUT OF WHICH HAS GROWN THE ORGANIZATION OF THE Woman's Peace Party. MUCH MAY BE HOPED FOR FROM THIS ORGANIZATION IF IT WILL CONCENTRATE ITS STRENGTH, AND NOT TRY TO DO TOO MANY THINGS AT once. IF THE WOMEN OF THE WORLD WILL UNITE AND PUT THE SAME MILITANT FORCE BEHIND THE PEACE MOVEMENT THAT THEY HAVE PUT BEHIND THE SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT THEY CAN END WARS. THERE IS NO DOUBT OF THAT. BUT IT WILL REQUIRE WORLD-WIDE ORGANIZATION, good generalship, and great concentration of effort. "One thing at a time" should be their motto. The following platform was adopted by the Woman's Pea...