The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-12-09
The Presidents Address
to Congress.

The presidents address delivered by
him yesterday to congress contains
two notable features-f1rst, recon-
nnendation for a government-own
merchant marine; and, second, a dec
laration against that spirit Of mill
tarism which certain interests are now
trying to incite.
These are the two most important
features OF the message and they are
worthy the thoughtful consideration
and, we believe, the approval OF all
patriotic men.
The objection which viii be raised
to government participation in the
building or buying OF a merchant ma
rine IS answered by the president in
one paragraph in which he says:
How are we to carry our goods to
the empty markets of which / have
spoken If we have not the ships? How
are we to build up great trade If
we have not the certain and constant
means of transportation upon which
all profitable and useful commerce
depends? And how are we to get the
ships If we wait for the trade to de-
velop without them? To correct the
many mistakes by which we have dis
couraged and all but destroyed the
merchant marine of the country. 70
retrace the steps by which we have,
it seems almost deliberately, with
drawn our flag from the seas, except
where, here and there, a ship Of war
is hidden carry It or some wandering
yacht displays it, would take a long
NJ irfxyolxya dntailnS items
of legislation, and the trade which we
ought Immediately to handle would
disappear or find other channels while
we debated the items.
That states the point exactly. Pri-
the ships. Private enterprise gives no
sign of providing them now. BUT
WE NEED THEM NOW. And how
are we to get them if the govern
ment does not step in and supply this
national need which private enterprise
has itself neglected?
As to our national defense-or our
"preparedness'' for war-the president
is equally clear in stating the posi-
ton and the duty of the United
oIdISSs ne says
It is said in some quarters that we
are not prepared for war What is
meant by being prepared? Is 1t meant
that we are not ready upon brief no.
tice to put q nation in the field,
nation of men trained to arms? OF
course we are not ready to do that;
and we shall never be in time Of
peace SO long as we retain our
present political principles and insti-
tutfons. And what is it that 1t is
suggested we should be prepared to
dor To defend ourselves against at
tack? We have always found means
to do that, and shall find them when
ever it is necessary without calling
our people away from their necessary
tasks to render compulsory military
service in times of peace.
Continuing on the same subject the
president further says:
From the first we have had clear
and settled policy with regard to mill
tary establishments. We never have
had, and while We retain our present
and ideals we never shall
have, a large standing army IF asked,
Are you ready to defend yourselves?
we reply, Most assuredly, to the ut
most; and yet we shall not turn
America into a military camp. We
will not ask our young men to spend
the best years of their lives making
soldiers of themselves. There Is an
other sort Of energy in us. 1t viii know
how to declare itself and make itself |
effective should occasion arise. And !
when half the world is on
fire we shall be careful to make our
moral insurance against the spread of |
fI.ao 20 and 1
certain and adequate indeed.
Let us remind ourselves, therefore, |
of the only thing we can do or viii |
do. We must depend in every time of /
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 1t will be right enough, right |
American policy, based upon our ac-
customed principles and practices, to
provide a system by which every citi- |
zen who will volunteer for the training /
may be made familiar with the use /
of modern arms. the rudiments of Grill |
and maneuver, and the maintenance
and sanitation Of camps. We should /
encourage such training and make 1t /
4 means of discipline which our young
men will learn to value. 1t is right |
that we should provide it not only,
but that we should make it as attrac-
tive as possible, and so induce our
young men to undergo it at such times
IS they can command little freedom
and can seek the physical develop
ment they need, for mere health's
sake, if for nothing more. Every
means by which such things can be
stimulated is legitimate, and such a
method smac<s of true American
IDEAS.
This is Americanism in its truest |