THE WISHING RING

Some weeks ago the press of the whole country burst forth with the jubilating news that an invention had been discovered which would throttle the submarine menace, and overturn fortresses and whole armies. A member of the Naval Consulting Board admitted modestly that this machine of victory was the product of our own well-known Yankee ingenuity and ability. We as modestly accepted the admission.

Since then, insofar as advices go, the submarine menace does not seem to have been finally throttled. No fortresses, no armies, have been overturned. We still use the former means of destroyers, chasers, and nets against the sea peril; and battles on land are still fought as they have been fought, with men and iron, and yet more men.

To say it conservatively, the announcement of this empire-wrecking device seems to have been rather premature. The announcement was not out of accord with the traditions of our people, which is apt to mistake the word for the deed, and confound its accomplishments with its hopes. That is the error of youth, which makes grandiose speeches about conquering the world, and then starts out to earn its bread and butter. Compare Germany, which did not say what she would do till it was done. At Liege, when the valiant defenders were rejoicing that the German advance had been stemmed, and her great war-machine broken, she brought up, without warning, without boasting, her terrible siege guns, each drawn by nineteen tractors, and planted them where they could crush the ring of forts. Germany's first note of announcement was the roar of those guns, hearing which Liege knew itself doomed.

America cannot make war by saying what she will do, which is not determinate, not what she has done, which is not stupendous. She cannot make war less wisely than her enemy.

Do we think Germany is to be frightened to weak-kneed terror by some bugaboo of a submarine destroyer? Do we think she will yield to old-womanish fears, and flee in terror from Belgium, when she hears that America is about to set forth to wither her enemies? If words could move Germany, our words would have done so. Words cannot move Germany. She has not a fear of our prowess equal to our confidence of it.

Let us make no threats until we have done some worthy deed in the conflict of nations to justify our martial pride.