US Presidency
1907

There are, of course, foolish people who denounce any care of the Army or Navy as militarism, but I do not think that these people are numerous. This country has to contend now, and has had to contend in the past, with many evils, and there is ample scope for all who would work for reform. But there is not one evil that now exists, or that ever has existed in this country, which is, or ever has been, owing in the smallest part to militarism. Declamation against militarism has no more serious place in an earnest and intelligent movement for righteousness in this country than declamation against the worship of Baal or Astaroth. It is declamation against a non existent evil, one which never has existed in this country, and which has not the slightest chance of appearing here.