lotine to
realize that it will cut, or will she accept the evidence of the
thousands which have lain there before? Will she heed the lesson of
all time, that national unpreparedness means national downfall, or
will she profit from the experience and misfortunes of others and
take those needed measures of preparedness which prudence and wisdom
dictate. In a word, will she draw any valuable lessons from the
Great War? This is the question which is so often asked. As yet
there is no answer.

It is the question uppermost in the minds of all those who are
intelligently interested in our country's welfare and safety. It is
the question which vitally concerns all of us, as it concerns the
defense and possibly the very existence of our nation. The answer
must be "Preparedness." If we are to live, preparedness to oppose
the force of wrong with the strength of right. Will it be? That's
the question! Or will America drift on blind to the lessons of the
world tragedy, heedless of consequences, concerned with the
accumulation of wealth, satiated with a sense of moral worth which
the world does not so fully recognize, planning to capture the
commerce of the warring nations, and expecting at the same time to
retain their friendship and regard. Let us hope that, in the light
of what is, and as a preparation against what may be, the answer
will be characteristic of a great people, peaceful but prudent and
foreseeing; that it will be thorough, carefully thought-out
preparedness; preparedness against war. A preparedness which if it
is to be lasting and secure must be founded upon the moral
organization of our people; an organization which will create and
keep alive in the heart of every citizen a sense not only of
obligation for service to the nation in time of war or trouble, but
also of obligation to so prepare himself as to render this service
effective. An organization which will recognize that the basic
principle upon which a free democracy or representative government
rests, and must rest, if they are to survive the day of stress and
trouble, is, that with manhood suffrage goes manhood obligation for
service, not necessarily with arms in hand, but for service
somewhere in that great complex mass which constitutes the
organization of a nation's might and resources for defense;
organization which will make us think in terms of the nation and not
those of city, State, or personal interest; organization which will
result in all perfo