Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1914-12-11
PRESIDENT
WILSON'S
MESSAGE
Continued from page q.

compulsory military service in ti,no,
OF peace.
Allow me to speak with great plain
ness and directness upon this uroo,
matter and to avOw my conyict,ons
with deep enrnestness. I hive triod
to know what America Is, what her
people think. what they are. what they
most cherish and hold dear. I none
that some OF their finer passions arc In
my own heart--sOme of the great cor,
cepfions and desires which gave birth
to this government and which have
made the voice Ut this people n vo,ce
OF peace and hope and liberty sm.no
the peoples Ut the world. and that.
speaking my own thoughts. I shall. a,
least IN pnrt. speak theirs also. how.
ever family and inadequateiy. upon
this vital matter
We are at peace With all the world
NO one who slenks counsel based I'm
fact or drawn from Just and candid
Interpretation Of realities can sav rim,
there Is reason to fear that from any
quarter our Independence or the intee.
rity OF our territory Is threatened
Dread OF the power Of any other ma.
ton we are incapable of. We nre NOR
Jealous OF rivalry In the 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 are. indeed. u true friend TO
all the nations OF the world. because
we threaten none. covet the posses
sions OF none. desire the overthrow of
none.
Our friendship can be accepted and
Is accepted without reservation. be-
cause 1t Is offered in a spirit and for
a purpose which no one need ever
question or suspect. Therein lies our
greatness We are the 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 particularly Jealous
of 1t, because it is our dearest present
hope that this character and reputation
may presently. in Gods providence
bring us an opportunity such as mas
seldom been vOuchSafed any nation
the opportunity to counsel and obtain
peace in the world and reconciliation
and healing settlement OF many a
matter that has cooled and interrupt.
ed the friendship of nations This il
the time above all others when we
should wish and resolve to keep our
strength by self possession. our intiu
en.e b" preserving our ancient princi
pies OF action
ttnVVl i,,...e
and settled policy with regard to mill
tary establishments. We never nave
had. and while we retain our present
principles and ideals we never shall
have. a large stantiin: army II asked.
Are you ready to defend yourselves?
We reply. Most aSSurpdy; IT, the ut
most. And yet We shall not turn
America into ii military camp We
will not ask our young men to spend
the best years OF their lives making
soldiers Of themselves There II 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 IL
on fire We shall be car pful TO make our
moral insurance against the spread of
the conf1agration very definite and Ger
tain and adequate indeed
Let us remind ourselves. therefore.
OF the only thing we can do or will do
We must depend In every time OF nh
tional peril. In the future as in the
past not upon II standing army nor yet
upon reserve army. hut upon II rit
zenry trained and accustomed to arms
II VIII be right enough. right American
policy, based upon our accustomed
principles and practices. to provide q
system by which every citizen VINO
will volunteer for the training may he
made familiar with the Use OF n''dern
arms. the rudintntS Ut drill anu ma
neuver and the maintenance ana SAM
tatiUn of camps We sllu'IId rilr"'iraEe
such training and make It Il in'iiils 0f
discipline which our young men will
learn to value.
II il right that we should provide It
not only, but that we should ttinke II
as attractive as possible, and 50 induce
our young men to undergo II NJ Sucn
times as they can command n nttIe
freedom and can seek the physical DE-
velOpmpnt they need. for mere hrhlths
sake. II for nothing more. Every
means by which such things can br
stimulated Is Legitimate. and surh
method Imacks Of true American IDEAS
1t is right. too. that the national guard
of the states should he developed and
strengthened by every mems which l.
not Inconsistent with our obligations
to our own people or with the e>ta"
lished policy Of onr government. ana
this also not because the time or ofF'a
sion specially calls for such measures
but because 1t should he our constant
policy to make these provisions Tor our
national peace and safety.
More than this carries with 1t re
versaI OF the whole history and char
0cter OF our pOity. More than TINS.
proposed at this time. permit me t"
say. would mean merely that we had
lost our self possession. that we mao
been thrown or our balance by war
with which we have nothing to no.
whose causes cannot touch ns. whose
very existence affords us opportunities
OF friendship and disinterested service
which should make uS ashamed OF any
thought OF hostility or fearful prepare