The Washington times., 1914-12-08

! do that. and shall ind them whenever
II is necessary 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 dirCctneSS upon this great
matter and to avow my ConvictiOrs with
deep CarncStness. 7 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-som" of the great conceptions
and desires which gave birth to 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. I shall, AT least I'm part,
speak theirs also. however family and
inadequatcly, upon this vital matter.
We are at peace with all the world.
No one who sp,uks counsel based IN
fact or drawn from a Just and candid
Interpretation Of realities can say that
there is reason TO fear that from any
quarter our independence or the in
tcgrity of our territory is thIeatcned.
Dread Of the power Of any other 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 VIII;
but we mean also TO let live. We arr,
indeed. a true friend to all the nations
of the world. because we threaten
none, coVct the possessions of none,
desire tho overthrow of none. our
friendship can be accepted and Is &C
Ccnted without reservation. because II
is offered in a spirit and for a purpose
which no one need ever question or sus-
poet. Therein lies our greatness. We
are the champions Of peace ana oil
concord And we should be very jealous
of this distinction which We have sought !
TO earn. Just now We should be par
ticuldTly Jealous of IL, because IL Is our
dearest present hope that this char
acter and reputation may presently. in
Gods providence. bring MS an oppor-
tunity such as has seldom been vouch-
saied any nation, the opportunity 70
counsel and obtain peace In the world
and reconciliation and healing settle
ment of many n matter that has cooled !
and interrupted the friendship Of ma
tions. This is the time above all others |
when we should wish and resolve 10
keep our strength by self-possessi"n, !
our influence by preserving our ancient
principles of action.
From the first we have had a clear |
and settled policy with regard 10 nlil- |
tary establishments. We never have !
had and while we retain our present /
principles and ideals We never snail |
have a large standing army. II asked. /
Are YOU ready to ietend yourselves |
we reply. Most assuredly. To the utmost !
and yet We shall not turn America lnto !
a military camp. We will not ASK our
young men to spend the best years OF |
their lives making soldiers or them !
selves. There is another sort of energy 1
in us. II will know how to declare !
itself and make itself effective should |
occasion arise. And especially when !
half of the world is on fire we shall be /
careful to make our moral insurance !
against the spread Of the CcnilaSrttion |
very definite and certain 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 ma /
tional peril. in the future as in the past !
not upon a standing army, nor yet upon |
a reserve army. but upon a citizenry /
trained and accustomed to arms. II /
will he right enough, right American |
policy based upon our accustomed |
principles and practices, 10 pro-
vide a system by which every cit /
izen who viii volunteer for the tram !
ing 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 II 4 !
means OF discipline which our young !
men will learn to value. II is right that |
We should provide II not only. but that |
we should make II as attractive as pos !
sible and so induce our young men TO !
undergo II at such times as they can 1
command a little freedom and can seek !
the DlN seal dekelOpIlGnL lnty AFtus I
for mere healths sake. If for nothing
more. Every means by which such /,
things can be stimulated is legitimate, !
and such a method smacks of true I
American ideas. 1t Is right, too, that
the National Guard of the states should 7
be developed and strengthened by every Z
means which is not inconsistent with /
our obligations to our own people or |
with the established policy Of our Gov
crurnent And this. also. not because
the time or occasion specially calls for !
such measures. but because il should I,
be our constant policy to make these
provisions for our national peace and
Moro than this carries with it a re-
versal of the whole history and char
acter OF our polity. More than this,
rroDosed at this time. permit me to
say. would mean merely that we had
lost our self-DoSsession. that We had
been thrown off our balance by a war
with which We have nothing to do
whose causes cannot touch us. whose
very existence affords us opportunities
OF friendship and disinteTest"d service
which should make us ashamed Of am
thought Of hostility or fearful prepare
ton for trouble. This is assuredly the
oouortunity for which a people and q
like ours were raised mp, |
the opportunity not only to speak but