THE question of our national defenses and the building of more battle-ships, etc., promises to be one of the most earnestly discussed propositions that will receive the attention of the present Congress. The president and his cabinet are determined that this nation shall keep out of war. They do not believe that it is necessary to build big guns, big battle-ships, and equip large armies, in order to do it. On the other hand, some of the most influential editors of the time are writing the strongest editorials that they know how to write, in favor of this nation's plunging with feverish earnestness into the building of super-Dreadnoughts, big guns, submarines, and all the rest of that kind of equipment, and then organizing an army and a naval force commensurate with the equipment provided. In New York City a "National Security League" was organized for the purpose of supporting those who are in favor of building these proposed armaments. It is said that the league is composed of some of the strongest and most influential men in the nation. If we get at the real sentiments of these men who are urging the war equipment so strongly, we will find that they will all express themselves in favor of peace; but they fear for the safety of the nation unless the "mailed fist," with the display of its mighty power, is kept waving in the foreground. This shows that regardless of the sentiments of men to the contrary, the divine Book was correct in saying that in the time of the end the nations would be angry.