The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1914-12-11

may presently, N GOD providence
bring Us an opportunity TO counsel
and obtain peace in the world and
reconciliation and q healing settle.
ment Of many a matter that has cooled
and interrupted the friendship Of
nations. This is the time above al
others that we should wish and r.
solve 10 keep our strength by selt-pos.
session, our influence by preserving
our ancient principles Of action.
Ready for Defense.
From the first we have had z clear
and settled policy with regard 70
military establishments. We never
have had. and while we retain our
present principles and ideals We never
shall have, large standing army.
If asked, are you ready to defend
yourselves? We reply, most assured
II. to the utmost; and yet We shan
not turn America into q military
camp. We must depend in every time
Of national peril, in the future as in
the past. not upon standing army,
nor yet upon q reserve army, but upon
citizenry trained and accustomed
70 arms. II will be right enough, right
American policy, based upon our &C.
customed principles and practices 10
provide a system by which every
citizen who will volunteer tor
the training may be made familiar
with the use of N jern arms. the rgdi-
nents Of drill and maneuyer, and the
maintenance and sanitation OF camps.
We should encourage such training
and make It a means Of discipline
which our young men viii learn 10
value. The National Guard of the
states should be developed and
strengthened By every means which is
not inconsistent with our obligations
to our own people or with the estab-
lished policy of our government. and
this, also, Nc because the time or &C
casion specially calls for such meas
ures, but because it should be our
constant policy TO make these provf
sions for our national peace and safe
ty.
More than this carries with it re
versal OF the whole history and char
acter of our polity. More than this,
proposed at this time, permit me 10
say, would mean merely that we had
lost our self-possession, that we had
been thrown OF our balance By var
with which we have nothing 70 do,
whose causes cannot touch Us. whose
very existence affords US oppOrtun-
tiles of friendship and disinterested
service which should make
ashamed of any thought Of hostility
or fearful preparation for trouble.
This is assuredly the opportunity for
which :; people and government Ike
ours were raised up, the opportunity
not only to speak but actually to en-
body and exemplify the counsels Of
peace and amity and the lasting con.
cord which is based on justice and fer
and generous dealing.
Ships Our Natural Bulwarks.
a powerful navy we have always
regarded as cur proper and natural
means of defense; and it has always
been of defense that We have thought
never of aggression or of conquest.
But who shall tell us now what sort
of navy to build? We shall take leave
to be strong upon the seas, in the
future as in the past; and there VIII
be no thought of offense or of provo
cation in that Our ships are our
natural bulwarks. When will the eY-
perts tell US just what kind we should
construct-and when will they be
right for ten years together, if the
relative efficiency of craft of differ
ont kinds and uses continues to
change as we have seen it change
under our very eyes in these last
few months?
But / turn away from the subject.
1t is not new. There is no new need
to discuss it. Let there be no miscon-
ceptien. The country has been misin-
formed. We have not been negligent
of national defense. We are not un
AhAANiu Vi VI inc great lCopOholDiItJ
resting upon US. We shall learn and
profit by the lesson of every expert.
ence and every new circumstances;
and what is needed will be adequately
done.
Great Duties of Peace.
close, as l began. by reminding
you of the great tasks and duties OF
peace which challenge our best powers
and invite us to build what will last,
the tasks to which we can address
ourselves now and at all times the
free-hearted zest and with all the finest
gifts of constructive wisdom we pos
sess To develop our life and our re-
sources; to supply our own people, and
the people of the world as their need
arises, from the abundant plenty OF
our fields and our marts of trade; to
enrich the commerce of our own states
and of the world with the products OF
our mines, our farms. and our fac