Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-08
U. S. at Peace With the World.

Allow me to speak with great plain
matter and to avow my convictions
with deep earnestness. l have tried
to know what America is. what her
people think. what they are, what
they most cherish and hold dear:
hone that some of their finer passions
are in my own heart-some of the
great conceptions and desires which
gave birth to this government and
which have made the voice of TINS
people voice of peace and hope and
world, and that, speaking my own
thoughts, 1 shall, at least in part,
speak theirs also, however family and
inadequately, upon this vital matter,
We are at peace with all the world.
No one who speaks counsel based on
fact or drawn from a just and candid
Interpretation of realities can say
that there is reason to fear that from
any quarter our independence or the
integrity of our territory is threat
ened. Dread of the power of any other
nation we are incapable of. We are
not jealous of rivalry in the fields of
commerce or of any other peaceful
achievement. We mean to live our
own lives as we will: but we mean
also to let live. We are, indeed, true
friend to all the nations of the world,
because we threaten none. covet the
possessions of none, desire the over
throw of none. Our friendship can be
accepted and is accepted without res
ervation, because it is offered in
spirit and for purpose which no one
need ever question or suspect. Therein
lies our greatness. We are the cham
pionS of peace and of concord. And
We should be very jealous of this dis
tinction which we have sought to
earn. Just now we should be particu-
larly jealous of it. because it is our
dearest present hope that this char
acter and reputation may presently,
in Gods providence. bring us an OPP
portunity such as has seldom been
voCchsafed any nation. the opportu-
nifty to counsel and obtain peace in the
world and reconciliation and healing
settlement of many a matter that has
cooled and interrupted the friendship
of nations This is the time above all
others when we should wish and re-
solve to keep our strength by self
possession. our influence by preserving
our ancient principles of action.
From the first we have had a clear
and settled policy with regard to mill
tary ESTABLISHMENTS. We never have
had. and while we retain our present
principles and ideals we never shall
have. large standing army. If asked
selves? we reply, Most assuredly. to
the utmost: and yet we shall not turn
America into military camp. We
will not ask our young men to spend
the best years OF their lives making
soldiers of themselves. There is an
other sort of energy in us. 1t will
know how to declare itself and make
itself effective should occasion arise
And especially when half the world is
on fire we shall be careful to make our
moral insurance against the spread of
the conf1aSration very definite and
certain and adequate indeed.
Dependence Upon Trained Citizenry.
Let us remind ourselves, therefore,
of the only thing we can do or will
do. We must depend in every time of
national peril. in the future as in the
past, not upon a standing army, not
yet upon a reserve army. but upon a
citizenry trained and accustomed to
arms. 1t will be right enough, right
American policy, based upon our ac-