Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1914-12-17

/ 1t can not be discussed without first
answering some very searching ques-
tons. 1t is said in some quarters that
we are not prepared for war, What
is meant by being prepared? Is is
meant that we are not ready upon
brief notice to put a nation in the field,
q nation of men trained to arms? OF
course we are not ready to do that;
and we shall never be in time Of peace
so long as we retain our political prin-
ciples and institutions. And what is
it that it is suggested we should be
prepared to do? To defend ourselves
against attack We have always
found means to do that, and shall find
them whenever it is necessary without
calling our people away from their
necessary tasks to render compulsory
military service in times Of peace.
Allow me to speak with great plain
ness and directness upon this great
matter and to avow my convictions
with deep earnestness. have tried
to know what America is, what her
people think, what they are, what they
most cherish and hold dear. / hope
that some OF their finer passions are
IN my own heart, Of the great
conceptions and desires which gave
birth to this Government and which
have made the voice Of this people
voice of peace and hope and liberty
among the peoples Of the world, and
that, speaking my own thoughts,
shall, at least in part, speak theirs
alone, however family and inadequate
| ly, upon this vital matter.
We are at peace with all the world.
No one who speaks counsel based on
! fact or drawn from just and candid
Interpretation of realities can say that
there is reason to fear that from any
quarter our independence or the in
tegrity Of our territory is threatened.
Dread Of the power of any other ma
ton we are incapable of. We are not
jealous of rivalry in the fields of COM
merce 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
reservation, because it is offered in
spirit and for a 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-
larry jealous of it, because it is our
dearest present hope that this char
acter and reputation may presently, in
Gods providence, bring US an oppor-
tunity such as has seldom been vouch-
safed any nation, the opportunity to
counsel and obtain peace in the world
and reconciliation and healing set
Element Of many 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 preserv-
ling our ancient principles Of action.
From the first we have had 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,
Are you ready to defend yourselves?
we reply, Most assuredly to the ut
most; and yet we shall not turn Amer
lea into military camp. We will not
ask cur young men to spend the best
years of their lives making soldiers
Of themselves. There is another 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 insur-
ance against the spread of the CON
fiagration very definite and certain
and adequate indeed.
Let US remind ourselves, therefore,
.op IIIM 10 ueo eM Su!qa 6Iuo eqa 10
We must depend in every time of ma
tional peril, in the future as in the
past, not upon a standing army, nor
yet upon reserve army, but upon a
citizenry trained and accustomed to
arms. It will be right enough, right
American policy, based upon our ac-
customed principles and practices, to
provide system by which every citi-
zen who will volunteer for the train
ing may be made familiar with the