Military caste absorbs to itself undue power--Danger seen in military opposition to improved system for river regulation--Military control of inland waterways detrimental to country--Army Engineers wedded to System of "Pork Barrel," political, piecemeal appropriations--Reason why Army methods of education hamper progress in river improvement--Mississippi River requires comprehensive treatment--Necessity for Source Stream Control on all upper tributaries--Why the Calaveras Reservoir was not built--Blunder in Construction of Stockton Cutoff Canal--War may be uncertain, but necessity for fight against floods and storms is certain--Description of a great Gulf Storm--Comprehensive plan for protecting lower delta of Mississippi River by great Dikes like those in Holland Safety from floods guaranteed by construction of Atchafalaya Controlled Outlet, Wasteway, and Auxiliary flood water channels. CHAPTER XII BENEFITS FROM THE NATIONAL HOMECROFT RESERVE SYSTEM 335 What this generation would bequeath to future generations--United States safeguarded against internal dangers and made impregnable against attack or invasion--No other plan will accomplish that result--Summary of reasons why Homecroft Reserve System will accomplish it--Comparison of cost of larger Standing Army and same number of Homecroft Reserve--Epitome of advantages of a Homecroft Reserve from the standpoint of Peace--Homecroft Reserve System must be evolved gradually--Rapid development would follow when system once well established--This is illustrated by growth of Rural Mail service, Electric lighting, aërial navigation, and telephone--Where the first 100,000 Homecroft Reservists should be located--50,000 Reservists in California, 50,000 in Louisiana, 80,000 in West Virginia, and 10,000 in Minnesota--Specification of apportionment to projects of the $100,000,000 that would be saved from military expenditures for increased Standing Army--Homecroft financial System proposed--Homecroft Certificates to be issued--Advantages of the Homecroft Reserve System to the Homecrofter--Economic power created for the Nation would result in Universal Peace. OUR NATIONAL DEFENSE THE PATRIOTISM OF PEACE CHAPTER I _Shall there be an end of war, and of all danger or possibility of war in the future, not only in this, but in all other countries, and shall we have universal peace on earth through all the coming centuries?_ That is the most momentous question that has ever confronted any nation in the history of the world. The United States of America stands face to face with it to-day, and can answer the question in the affirmative, if the people of this country so determine.