Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-08

pie voice Of peace and hope and liberty
/ among the peoples Of the world. and that,
| speaking my own thoughts, shall at
| least IN part speak theirs also, however
family and inadequately, upon this vital
| matter.
We are at peace with all the world No
| one who speaks counsel based on fact
or drawn from a Just and candid inter-
! pretation Of realities
can say that there IL
| Nations reason to fear that
| Tnf1,aoo. from any quarter
| our independence or
Tor Peace the integrity of our
| territory is threat
| ened. Dread OF the
/ power of any nation we are incapable of.
! We are not Jealous of rivalry In the fields
Of commerce or of any other peaceful
achievement. We mean to live our own
lives as we will; but we mean also TO let
live. We are, indeed, a true friend to all
the nations Of the world, because we
threaten none, covet the possessions OF
none. desire the overthrow Of none Our
friendship can be accepted and Is ao-
cepted without reservation. because Il Is
offered In 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 distinc-
tion which we have sought to earn. Just
now we should be particularly Jealous of
IT, because II Is our dearest present hope
that this character arj reputation may
presently, In Gods providence, bring us
an opportunity such as has seldom been
vouohsafed any nation, the opportunity
to counsel and obtain peace in the world
and reconciliation and a healing settle
ment OF many a 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
80 -.NF -
by preserving our ancient principles OF
action.
From the first we have had a clear and
settled policy with regard to military es-
Establishments. We never have had. and |
while we retain our present principles |
and ideals we never shall have, a large |
standing army. II asked. Are you ready TO |
defend yourselves? we reply. Most as
suredly, to the utmost; and yet we shall |
not turn America into military camp. |
We will not ask our young men to spend |
the best years of their lives making SOL
diers of themselves. There is another
sort OF energy in us. II will know how
to declare itself and make itself effective
should occasion arise. And especially
when half the world ia on fire we shall
be careful to make our moral insurance
against the spread of the conhagration
very definite and certain and adequate in
deed.
Let us remind ourselves, therefore. ot
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
Training of upon standing
r1i+,.o.r 4; army, nor yet upon
reserve army, but
Use or Arms upon citizenry
trained and accus-
toned to arms. 1t
Will be right enough right American poll
icy. based upon our accustomed princi-
Piles and practices. to provide a system
by which every citizen who will volun-
teer for the training may be made famil-
ar with the use of modern arms, the rudi-
nents of drill and maneuver, and the
and sanitation OF camps
We should encourage such training and
make 1t a means OF discipline which our
young men will learn to value. II is right |
that we should provide it not only, but
hat we should make 1t as attractive as
possible, and so induce our young men 10 |
Undergo It at such times as they can COM
nand a little freedom and can seek the
physical development they need, for mere
lealth's sake, II for nothing more Every
means by which such things can be stim-
llated is legitimate and such a method
imacks of true American ideas 1t Is
#,
states should be developed and strength
med by every means which Is not incon-
iistent with our obligations. to our own
,eople or with the established policy of
'ur Government. And this, also, not be- i
ause the time or occasion specially calls =
or such measures but because 1t should
,e our constant policy to make these pro-
'isions for our national peace and safety
More than this carries with II a re-
'ersal of the whole history and charac-
er of our polity. More than this, pro-
,osed at this time, permit me to say
would mean merely that we had lost our
that we had been thrown
m our balance by war with which we
ave nothing to do whose causes cannot
ouch us. whose very existence affords us
opportunities Of friendship and disinter-
sted service which should make us
shamed OF any thought OF hostility or 4
earful preparation for trouble. This is
ssuredly the opportunity for which
eople and a government like ours were
alsed up, the opportunity not only to
peak but actually to embody and exem-
lify the counsels of peace and amity
nd the lasting concord which Is based
n justice and fair and generous dealing.
A powerful navy we have always re-
arded as our proper and natural means
I defense: and II has always been OF de-
fense that we have &
/ -
thought. never OF y
Navy as aggression or OF 4
Ny.+,,,..I conquest. But who u
shall tell us now
Defense what sort OF a navy s
10 build? We shall y.
take leave 10 be :
-rong upon the seas. in the future as In :,
ne past; and there viii be no thought OF =,
fense or pToYocation in that Our ships =
re our natural bulwarks. When will the =,
Lperts tell us just what kind we should n
when will they be right
,F 10 years together, II the relative EN- e
eney of craft OF different kinds and uses n
,ntinues to change as we have seen II q
lange under our very eyes in these last @
Nv months? X
But l turn away from the subject II A
not new. There Is no new need to dis a.
ss IT, We shall not alter our attitude q
ward It because some among us are X
,Fvous and excited. We shall easily and q
nsibly agree upon a policy OF defense. A
10 question has not changed its aspects a.,
cause the times are not normal Our =.
liey will not be for an occasion. II win =,
conceived as a permanent ard settled ID
ing, which We will pursue at ali sea- b,
ms, without haste and after fashion b,
rfeetly consisteqp with the peace OF the pl
'rld. the abiding friendship Of States te