（十二月十二日）
ADEQUATE DEFENSE.
Just as Congress assembles an apparently well organized and financed movement starts to create a scare about national defenses. Although there are presented no arguments not thoroughly refuted by the European war, the backers of this movement evidently hope to cause a panic and thus get the appropriations they desire. One may well question the sincerity and patriotism of those who resort to such methods. At present they deny wanting big armaments but only ask enough for "adequate defense". What is adequate defense? In case of war no defense is adequate that is not stronger than the opposing force, and inadequate defense, these panic creators tell us, is as good as none. So to have "adequate defense" we must create an armament more powerful than any possible combination of foes could bring against us. And that would only be a beginning, for our potential foes might suspect that we were planning to attack them, just as we suspect them of planning to attack us. They would attempt to outstrip us in building armaments. Our jingo alarmists would call attention to this, create another scare and urge further appropriations. Such a race would be ruinous. To stop it either one side would have to voluntarily retire, and thus make its peaceful intentions clear, or it would have to find some pretext to attack the other when conditions for victory would seem most favorable. Europe's experience shows that the latter alternative is the most likely to be selected. Preparations for war only lead to war. The only adequate defense does not consist in armaments, but in just dealings with the people of all nations.
正当国会开会的时候，一个有组织的为国防筹资的运动正紧张进行。虽然现在的各种国防论都已经被眼下的欧战一一击破，然而这个运动的倡导者仍明显希望引起社会轰动，从而获得预期的国防拨款。人们不禁要质问求助此种方法的人，他们的诚意和爱国主义何在？此刻这些人辩解说他们并非要大量的军备，而是要充足的国防。那么什么是充足的国防？就战争而言，任何国防，若是弱于敌国，便都谈不上是充足的国防。这些起哄的人又辩驳说，即便是不充足的国防，也胜过没有国防。所以，为了有一个“充足的国防”，我们就需要有一个强大的军备，能够抵挡所有可能联合起来的敌国。一经开始，便没有止境。因为我们潜在的敌人也许会怀疑我们正在计划攻击他们，正如同我们私下对他们的猜测一样。他们可能会在军备上超过我们。然而我们的好战的起哄者也会提醒吾国人
【打 印】 【来源：读书之家-dushuzhijia.com】
