The Washington herald., 1914-12-09

peril, in the future as In the past, not
upon standing army, not yet upon
reserve army. but upon a cttizenry tram
ed and accustomed to arms. II VIII De
right enough, right American policy,
base upon 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, the rudiments OF
drill and maneuver. and the maintenance
and sanitation of camps We should en-
courage such training and make 1t a
meas of discipline which our young men
VIII learn to value 1t Is right that We
should provide II not only, but that We
should make II as attractive as possible,
and so induce our young men to undergo
II at such times as they can command a
little freedom and can seek the physical
development they need, for mere hCalths
sake. II for nothing more. Every means
oy which such things can be stimulated
Is legitimate. and such a method smacks
OF true American ideas. 1t Is right. too.
that 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 established policy of our
government. And this, also. not because
the time or occasion specially calls for
such measures, but because 1t should
be our constant policy to make these
provisions for our national peace and
safety
More than this carries with IL a re-
Versal of the whole history and char
acter Of our policy. More than this,
proposed at this time. permit me to say.
would mean merely that we had lost our
self-possession. that We had been thrown
on our balance by war with which We
nave nothing to do. whose causes cannot
touch us, whose very existence affords
us opportunities Of friendship and dis
interested service which should make US
ashamed of any thought of hostility or
fearful preparation for trouble. This
Is assuredly the opportunity for which a
people and a government like ours were
raised up, the opportunity not only to
speak, but actually to embody and ex-
emplify the Counsels of peace and amity
and the lasting concord which is based
on justice and fair and generous deal
ings.
Navy Proper Defense.
A powerful navy we have always re-
garded as our proper and natural means
or 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 will be no thought Of offense or of
provocation in that. Our ships are our
natural bulwarks. When will the experts
tell us just what kind We should con-
strickland when will they be right for
ten years together. II the relative efici-
ency of craft Of different kinds and uses
continues to change as we have seen II
change under our very eyes in these last
few months?
But turn away from the subject It
is not new. There is no new need to
discuss it. We shall not alter our at
titude toward IL because some among
us are nervous and excited. We shall
easily and sensibly agree upon a policy
OF defense. The question has not changed
its aspects because the Times are not
normal. Our policy will not be for an oc-
casion. 1t will be conceived as a perma-
nent and settled thing. which we will
pursue at all seasons. without haste and
after a fashion perfectly consistent with
the peace of the world. the abiding friend
ship OF States. and the unhampered free
dom Of all with whom we deal. Let
there be no misconception. The country
has been misinformed. We have not been
negligent OF national defense. We are
not unmindful of the great responsibility
resting upon us. We shall learn and
pAOhA bN ltSSOu VI every
and every new circumstance: and what is |
needed Will be adequately done.
I close. as I began. by reminding you
of the great tasks and duties of peace
which challenge our best powers and in
vite us to build what will last, the tasks
to which we can address ourselves now
and at all times with freehearted zest
and with all the finest gifts OF construc- |
tive wisdom We possess. To develop our |
life and our resources: 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 factories, with the creations OF our |
thought and the fruits of our character
this is what will hold our attention and |
our enthusiasm steadily. now and in the
years to come. as we strive to show in .
our life as a nation what liberty and the
OF an emancipated spirit may
do for men and for societies, for in
dividuals, for States and for mankind.
Stockings first came into use in the
eleventh century, before which 10 was