Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-12-08

are, what they most CHERISH anu
hold CieEr. [ hope that some of their
finer passions are in my own heart
some of the great conceptions and
desires which gave birth TO this gov
eminent and which have made the
voice of the people q Voice of peace
and hope and liberty among the peo-
pies of the world and that, speak
ing my own thoughts, | shall, al
least in part, speak theirs also. how
ever family and inadequately apo.
this vital matter.
Dread and Jealousy Lacking.
We are at peace with all the world
No one who speaks counsel based on
fact or drawn from a just and cam
did Interpretation of realities can say
that there is reason TO fear that from
any quarter our independence or the
! integrity OF our territory is threat
! eped. 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 oul
own lives as we will: but we mean
also to let live. We are, indeed, true
/ friend TO all the nations of the world,
| because we threaten none, coVet the
| possessions of none, desire the over
| throw OF none. Our friendship can
|
| out reservation, because IL is offered
! in spirit and for purpose which
/ no one need ever question or slis-
pect Therein lies our greatness. We
are the champions of peace and of
concord. And we should be very
| jealous OF this distinction which we
| have sought to earn. Just now we
should be particularly jealous of it,
because it is our dearest present hope
~ H.,
may presently, in Gods providence,
bring US an opportunity such as has
seldom been vouchsafed any nation,
the opportunity to counsel and OBJ
tain peace in the world and recon-
Citation and healing settlement 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 strength by possession,
our influence by preserving our an
Client principles of action.
From the first we have had a clear
and settled policy with regard to
military 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 assuredly
to the utmost: and vet 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 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 is on fire we shall be careful
to make our moral insurance against
the spread of the conflagration very
definite and certain and adequate in
deed.
Citixenry Trained to Arms.
Let us remind ourselves, therefore,
Of the only thing we can do or will
co. We must depend in every time OF
national 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 u
arms. 1t will be right enough, right
American policy. based upon our &C.
customed principles and practices, 70
provide a system by which every citi
zen who viii volunteer for the train
ing may be made familiar with the
use OF modern arms, the rudiments
Of drill and maneuver, and the main
tenance and sanitation of camps. We
should encourage such training ana
make il a means Of discipline which
eur young men will learn to value.
1t is right that we should provide il
not only, but that We should make it
as attractive as possible, and so in
duce our Young men to undergo it at
such till 3 as they can command a
little freedom and can seek the ply
steal development they need, for mere
health's sake, if for nothing more
Every means by which such things
can be stimulated is legitimate, ana
such a, method smaeks of true Ameri-
can ideas II is right, too, that the
National Guard Of the States should
| be developed and strengthened by
every means which is not inconsistent
with our obligations to our own PEG
pie or with the established policy OF
our government. And this, also, not
because the time or occasion special,
calls for such measures but because
1t should be our constant policy to
make these provisions for our ma
tional peace and safety.
More than this carries with il 9
reversal Of the WHOLE history and
character Of our policy More than
this, proposed at this time, permit me
to say, would mean merely that We
had lost our possession, that we
had been thrown off our balance by
q war with which we have nothing
to do, whose causes cannot touch
us, whose very existence affords us
opportunities Of friendship and dis
interested service which should make
us ashamed of any thought OF hos
tility or fearful preparation for trou-
BILE This is assuredly the opportunity
for which a people and a government
like ours were raised up, the oppor-
tunity not only TO speak but actually
to embody and eXemplify the coun-
sells Of peace and amity and the last
ing concord which is based on JUS
tice and fair and generous dealing.
Sought Only Defense.
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