Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-12-10

make itself effective should occasion
arise. And especially when half the
world is on fire we shall he careful
to make our moral insurance against
the spread of the confagration very
definite and certain and adequate in
deed.
Let US remind ourselves, therefore,
OF the only thing we can do or will
do. We must depend in every time
of national peril, in the future as in
the past, not upon standing army.
nor yet upon a reserve army, but upon
a citizenry trained and accustomed
10 arms. 1t will be right enough, right
American policy, based upon our &C
customed 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 rudi-
ments Of drill and maneuver, and the
maintenance and sanitation of camps.
We should encourage such training
and make it means Of discipline
which our young men will learn to
value. 1t is right that we should pro
vide it not only, but that we should
make it as attractive as possible, and
so induce our young men to undergo
it at such times as they can command
a little freedom and can seek the
physical development they need, for
more health's sake, if for nothing
more. Every means by which such
things can be stimulated is legitimate,
and such a method smacks Of true
American ideas. 1t is a right, too,
that the National Guard of the states
should be developed and strengthened
by every means which is not incon-
sistent with our obligations to our
own people or with the established
policy of our government. And this,
also, not because the time or occasion
because it should be our constant pol
icy to make these provisions for our
national peace and safety.
More than this carries with it a re-
versal of the whole history and char
acter of our polity. 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 off our balance by a war
with which he have nothing to do,
whose causes cannot touch US, whose
very existence affords US opportun-
tiles Of friendship and disinterested
service which should make US
ashamed of any thought of hostility
or fearful preparation for trouble.
Ships Our Natural BuIwarks.
A powerful navy we have always
regarded as our. proper and natural
means of 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 provo
cation in that. Our ships are our
natural buIwarks. When will the ex-
perts tell US just what kind we should
construct-and when will they be
right for ten years together, if the
relative efficiency Of craft for differ
ent kinds and uses continues to
change as we have seen it change
under our very eyes in these last
few months?
But I turn away from the subject.
It is not new. There is no new need
to discuss it. We shall not alter our
attitude toward it because some
amongst US are nervous and excited.
We shall easily and sensibly agree
such a policy of defense. The ques-
ton has not changed its aspects be-
cause the times are not normal. Our
policy will not be for an occasion.
1t will be conceived as a permanent
and settled thing, which we will pur-
sue at all seasons, without haste and
after fashion perfectly consistent
with the peaca of the world, the abid-
ing friendship of states, and the IN
hampered freedom of all with whom
we deal. Let there be no misconcep-
ton. The country has been misin-
formed We have not been negligent
of national defense. We are not IN
mindful Of the great responsibility
resting upon US. We shall learn and
profit by the lesson Of every expert
ence and every new circumstances;
and what is needed will be adequately
done.
Great Duties of Peace.
I close, as I began, by reminding
you of the great tasks and duties of
peace which challenge our best pow
ers and invite US to build what will
last, the tasks to which we can address
ourselves now and at all times the
free-hearted Zest and with all the fin
est gifts of constructive wisdom we
possess. To develop our life and our
resources; to supply our own people,
and the people CT 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 prod
ucts of our mines, our farms, and our
factories, with the creations of our
thought and the fruits of our charac-
ter-this is what will hold our atten-
ton 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 inspirations Of an
emancipated spirit may do for men
and for societies, for individuals, for
states, and for mankind.
~~~-~~~~~-~~~~~~~~~-0Oo~~O~
Russian Woman MARTYR