PREPAREDNESS FOR SELF-DEFENSE

Since force is still the weapon of international justice, readiness and willingness to use it for defense, when necessary, is then the first condition of fulfilling the aims and serving the causes for which America stands.  In other words, since the relations of the nations are still so largely those of individuals under the conditions of frontier life, as with the honest man on the frontier, so for the self-respecting, peace-loving nation to-day, it is well to carry a gun and know how to shoot.

Carrying a gun is a dangerous practice, for two reasons:  it may go off in your pocket; you may get drunk and shoot when you ought not.  Those are the only two rational arguments against national preparation for defense, in the present state of the world.  Let us see.  The gun may go off in your pocket:  that is, if a strong armament for defense is built up, there is always danger that it may be used internally, against the people, unjustly.  That, indeed, has been one of the curses of Europe for a thousand years.  It is a grave danger, but recognizing it is partly forestalling it; moreover, we would better face that danger than one far worse.  So with the other menace:  you may get drunk and shoot when you ought not.  Nations get drunk:  they get drunk with pride, arrogance, aggressive ambition, revenge, even with panic terror, and so shoot when they should not.  This, also, is a grave danger; but here, as well, recognizing it is part way forestalling it, and this danger, too, we would better face than one far more terrible.  Moreover, it is armament for the gratification of aggressive ambition, and under the control of the arbitrary authority of a despotic individual or group, that tends to initiate war, not armament solely to defend the liberties of a people.

Thus, under the conditions cited, it is well to be armed and prepared.  If a wolf is at large, if a mad dog is loose, if a madman is abroad with an ax, it is the part of wisdom to have an adequate weapon and be prepared to use it.  If the Athenians had not resisted the hordes of Asia, what would have been the history of Europe?  If the French had not resisted tyranny and injustice in the Revolution, what would have been the civilization of the last hundred years?  If the English colonists had not resisted taxation without representation, what would be the present status of America?  If the artisan groups had not united and fought economic exploitation, what would be their life to-day?  If Belgium had not resisted Germany, what would be the future of democracy in Europe?  Thus, now and after the War, the need is for all necessary armament for self-respecting self-defense and not an atom to gratify aggressive ambition.  This does not mean that, once involved in war, the military tactics of democracy should be merely defensive.  As has often and wisely been said, in war the best defense is a swift and hard attack.