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Show Armistice Day Again A'.mistice Day, this week, is set apart to commemorate the end of the Wcrld War in which millions of American soldiers and sailors participated. Similar anniversaries, in many countries, are the occasion fcr displays dis-plays of military power and are seized upon by political leaders who speak to their peoples in inflammatory inflamma-tory language and attempt to fan. the fires of patriotism by lauding the victor of the past. It is striking that in this country ihe day is generally regarded as sacred to the memory of the men and women who lost their lives in the service of their country. The custom reflects the inherent love of the people of this matron for peace, and their dislike for war. Such an attitude is not altogether alto-gether understood in militaristic! countries, where it is thought that the Americans will not fight. Our participation in the World War should have dissipated this belief, but it is undoubtedly prevalent in the minds cf present-day dictators. Undoubtedly, they are right so far as the quarrels of other nations are concerned, although many Americans Ameri-cans fear that this country will not be able to escape another genera'i war. The fact that the United States is pursuing a policy of preparedness prepared-ness and1 increasing its military, naval and aerial forces, serves notice no-tice up n the rest of the world that there are things for which th? United States will exert its stiength. T. (his extent, our expenditures ex-penditures for armaments tend to preserve our peace id full status and, if this is true, tire justifiable as insurance against war. |