Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-09
" RICHMOND TIMEsDIsPATcH WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER s. 1914

what 1t Should do. but adding what will
benefit only few or pouring money
out for what need not have been under.
taken ut all or might have been post
poned or better and moro economically
conceived and carried out. The nation
Is not niggardly: II is very generous.
1t will chldo us only IL we forget for
whom We pay money out and whose
money 1t Is we pay. These are largo
and general standards. but they are
not very difficult of application to par
ticular cases
SUGGESTIONS ARE MADE
FOR NATIONAL DEFENSE
The other topic / shall take leave to
mention goes deeper into the princi-
pies OF our national life and policy.
1t is the subject of national defense.
1t cannot 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 it
meant that we are not ready upon brief
notice to put nation in the field, a
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 present politi-
cal principles and institutions. And
what is it that it is suggested we
should be prepared to do? To defend
ways round means to do that, and shall
find them whenever 1t is necessary
without calling our people away from
their necessary tasks to render com
puisory 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-some of the great con-
ceptlons and desires which gave birth
10 TINS 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, I shall at
least In part. speak theirs also, how
ever taihtly and inadequately. upon this
vital matter.
We are at peace with all the world
No one who speaks counsel based on
TACT or drawn from n 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 nation
we are incapable OF. We are not
Jealous of rivalry in tile fields OF com
merce or of any other peaceful achieve
ment. We mean to live our own lives
as We Will, but we mean also to let
live We arc. indeed a true friend to
all the nations of the world. because
we threaten none, covet the pos
sessions OF none, desire the over
throw of none. Our friendship can
he accepted and is accepted without
reservation, because IL is offered In n
spirit and for u purpose which no one
need ever question or suspect There
IN lies our greatness. We are tho
champions of peace and of concord
And we should be very jealous of this
distinction which we have sought to
earn. Just now we should be particu-
larly Jealous Of 1t. because il is our
dearest present hope that this char
acter and reputation may presently, I'm
Gods providence, bring us an oppor-
tunity such has seldom been
Houchsafcd any nation. the opportunity
to counsel and obtain peace in
the world and reconciliation and a
healing settlement OF many matter
that has cooled and interrupted the
friendship of nations. This Is the
time above all others when we should
wish and resolve to keep our strength
by self-possession, our influence by
preserving our ancient principles OF
action.
SHALL NOT TURN AMERICA
INTO MILITARY CAMP
From the first we have had a clear