The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1914-12-08
PRESIDENT WILSON DELIVERS
ORAL MESSAGE TO CONGRESS

IL
1t is the matter of making adequate
provision for the survey and charting
of our coasts. II is impressing and
exigent in connection with the inn
mense coast line of Alaska, a coast
line greater than that of the United
States themselves, though it is also
very important indeed with regard to
the older coasts of the continent. We
cannot use our great Alaskan domain,
ships will not ply thither, if those
coasts and their many hidden dang
ers are not thoroughly surveyed and
eharted. The work is incomplete at
almost every point.
| Before / close may | say a few
words upon two topics, much discuss
ed ont of dooors, upon which it is
highly important that our judgments
should be clear, definite and stead
fast?
One of these is economy in govern
ment expenditures. The duty of
economy is not debatable. 1t is man
/ ifest and imperative. In the appro-
| priations we pass we are spending
the money of the great people whose
servants we are-not our own. We
are trustees and responsible stewards
in the spending The only thing de
batable and upon which we should be
careful to make our thought and pur-
pose clear is the kind of economy de-
manded of us.
| The other topic I shall take leave
to mention goes deeper into the prin
ciples of our national life and policy.
1t is the subject of national defense.
1t cannot be discussed without first
answering some very searching ques-
tions. 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 a nation in the
field, a nation of men trained to
arms9 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 political principles and insti-
tutions. And what is it that is sug-
gested we should be prepared to do.
To defend ourselves against attack
We have always found means to do
that and shall find them whenever il
is necessary without calling our peo
pic away from their necessary tasks
to render compulsory military service
in times of peace.
From the first we have a clear and
settled policy with regard to military
establishments. We never have had,
and while we retain our present prin-
ciples and ideals we never shall have,
ia large standing army. If asked, are
you ready to defend yourselves9 We
reply most assuredly, to the utmost,
and vet 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.
Let us remind ourselves, therefore.
of the only thing we can do or will
do We must depend in every me
of national peril, in the future as in
the past, not upon a standing army,
nor yet upon a reserve army, but up
on citizenry trained and accustomed
to arms 1t will be right enough,
right American policy, based on our
accustomed principles and practices,
to provide a system by which every
citizen who will volunteer for the
training may be made familiar with
the use of modern arms, and the rudi-
ments of drill and maneuver. and the
maintenance and sanitation of camps.
More than this carries with it re-
versal of the whole history and char
acter of our policy. More than this,
proposed at this time, permit me to
Esay, would mean that we had lost opr
elf-possession, that we had been
thrown off our balance by war with
which we have nothing to do, whose
causes touch us, whose very existence
affords us opportunities of friendship
and disinterested service which should
make us ashamed of any thought of
hostility or fearful preparation for
trouble This is assuredly the oppor
tunity for which a people and a gov
ernment like ours were raised up, the
opportunity not only TO speak but ac-
tually to embody and exemplify the
counsels of peace and amity and the
lasting concord which is based ON JUS
tice and fair and generous dealing
A powerful navy We have always
regarded as our proper and natural
means of defense; and il has always
been of defense that we have thought,
not of conquest.
But who shall tell us now what
sort of navy to buildg We shall
4
in the future as in the past and there
will be no thought of offense or of
provocation in that. Our ships are our
natural bulwarks. When will the ex-
perts tell us Just what kind we should
construet-and when will they be
right for ten wears together. if the
relative efficiency of craft of differ
ent kinds and uses continues to change
as we have seen it change under our
very ewes in these last few monthsi
| close. as I began. by reminding
YOU of the great tasks and duties of
peace which challenge our best pow
ers and invites us to build what will
last, the tasks to which we can ad
dress ourselves now and at all times
with free hearted zest and with all
the finest gifts of constructive wis
dom we possess. To develop our life
and nur rQsOuFcQS. fo sunDlv ollr own