Evening journal., 1914-12-08
PRESIDENT OPPOSED TO
BIG STANDING ARMY.
Speaks Plainly and Directly on Cues
ton Of National pefensss.

Speaks Plainly and Directly on Cues
ton Of National Defensss.
The other topic | sh-ll take leave
10 mention goes deeper into the prin-
ciples Of our national life and policy.
II Is the subject OF national defense
IL cannot be discussed without first
answering some very searching ques
tons. II Is said I'm some quarters that
we are not prepared for war. What is |
meant by being prepared Is II meant |
that we are not ready upon brief no.
tice 10 put mutton in the held. a ma !
ton Of men trained TO armsy or
course we are not ready to do that.
and we shall never be In time Of peace
so long as we retain our present polit
ical principles and institutions. And
what is II that II is suggested we
should be prepared 20 do-to defend
ourselves against attack We have al
ways found means 10 do that and
shall find them whenever Il Is neces.
sary without calling our people away
from their necessary tasks TO render
compulsory military service In times
Of peace.
Allow me to speak with great plain.
ness and directness upon this great
matter and 10 avow my convictions
with deep earnestness. have tried
TO know what America IS, what her
people think. what they are. what they
most cherish and hold dear. ! hope
that some OF their finer passions are IN
my own heart-some OF the great CON
1 ceptions and desires which gave birth
/ 10 this government and which have
made the voice Of this people a voice
OF peace and hope and liberty among
the peoples OF the world. and that
speaking my own thoughts. shall. al
least in part. speak theirs also. how
ever family and inadeQuately. upoI
this vital matter
We are at peace with all the world
No one who speaks counsel based Of
fact or drawn from n iust and candle
Interpretation OF realities can say tina
there is reason TO fear that from an.
quarter our independence or the integ
rity OF our territory is threatened
Dread OF the power OF any other ma
ton we are incapable Of We are no
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 10 le
live. We are. indeed. a true friend q
all the nations OF the world. because
we threaten none. covet the posses
sions OF none, desire the overthrow o
none.
Our friendship can be accepted AM
Is accepted without reservation. hc
cause II is offered in a spirit and 70
a purpose which no one need eve
question OF suspect. Therein lies on
greatness We are the champions O
peace and OF concord. And we shoul
be very jealous OF this distlnctio
which we have sought to earn. Jus
now we should be particularly jealou
OF II. because 10 is our dearest preser
: hope that this character and reputatio
may presently. I'm Gods providence
bring us an opportunity such as ha
e seldom been vouchsafed any natioi
l the opportunity TO counsel and obtai
g peace in the world and reconciliatio
s and n healing settlement OF many
II matter that has cooled and Interrupt
Il ed the friendship Of nations. This
It the time above all others when "
E should wish and resolve to keep OF
,. strength by self possession. our inn
b ence by preserving our ancient primo
!, pies Of action.
b From the first we have had a clei
y and settled policy with regard to mi
]. tary establishments. We never has
l. had. and while we retain our pre1eI
( principles and ideals we never shu
ie have. large standing army. II aske
n Are you ready 70 defend yourselves
D. we reply. Most assuredly; to the u
most. And yet we shall not tut
lt America into a military camp. "
T. will not ask our young men to speI
IS the best years Of their lives makir
Id soldiers Of themselves. There Is a
e. other sort OF energy in us. IL "
nj know how to declare itself and NAL
hi itself effective should occasion arts
" And especially when half the world
~ on Gre we shall be careful to make o.
to moral insurance against the spread
" the conflagration very definite and &C
~ tain and adequate indeed.
d. Let us remind ourselves. therefor
OF the only thing we can do or viii d
lie We must depend In every time Of n
Mt tional peril. In the future as I'm q
OF past. not upon a standing army nor y
lis upon a reserve army. but upon a ci
n Eenry trained and accustomed 70 arm