Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-12-18

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 confiagration very
definite and certain and adequate in
deed
Let US remind ourselves. therefore,
of 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 upon standing army,
nor yet upon reserve army, but upon
a citiZenry trained and, accustomed
to arms. 1t will be right enough, right
American policy, based upon our ac-
custone6 principles and practices, to
provide a system by which every
citizen who will volunteer fof
the training may be made familiar
with the use Of modern arms, the rudl-
ments of drill and maneuver, and the
maintenance and sanitation of camps.
We should encourage such training
and make it a means of discipline
which our young men will learn 10
value. 1t is right that we should pro-
vide it not only, but that we should
make it as attractive as possible, and
so induce our young men to undergo
ii at such times as they can command
a little freedom and can seek the
physical development they need, for
more health's sake, if for nothing
more. Every means by which such
things can be stimulated is legitimate,
and such a method smacks of true
American ideas. 1t is right, too,
| that the National Guard of the states
should be developed and strengthened
| by every means which is not incon-
sistent with our obligations to our
| own people or with the established
| policy of our government. And this,
! also, not because the time or occasion
specially calls for such measures, but
/ because it should be our constant pol
icy to make these provisions for our
national peace and safety.
More than this carries with it re-
versa1 of the whole history and char
acter of our polity. More than this,
| proposed at this time, permit me to
! say, would mean merely that we had
| lost our self-possession, that we had
been thrown off our balance by war
with which he have nothing to do.
whose causes cannot touch US, whose
| very existence affords US opportun-
tiles of friendship and disinterested
service which should make us
ashamed of any thought of hostility
or fearful preparation for trouble.
! Ships Our Natural Bulwarks.
| A powerful navy we have always
| regarded as our proper and natural
means of defense; and it has always
been of defence 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
cation in that Our ships are our
natural bulwsrks. When will the ex
perts tell US just what kind we should
construct when will they be
right for ten years together, If the
relative efficiency of craft for differ
/ ent kinds and uses continues to
change as we have seen it change
under cur verv eyes in these last
few months?
But turn away from the subject
It is not new. There is no new need
to discuss it. We shall not alter our
attitude toward it because some
amongst US are nervous and excited
We shall easily and sensibly agree
such policv of defense. The ques
ton has not changed its aspects be
cause the times are not normal. Oul
policy will not be for an occasion
1t will be conceived as a permanen,
and settled thing, which we will pur
sue at all seasons, without haste ani
after a fashion perfectly consistent
with the peace of the world, the abid
ing friendship of states. and the un
hampered freedom of all with whom
we deal Let there be no misconcep
ton. The country has been misin
formed. We have not been negligent
of national defense. We are not un
mindful Of the great responsibility
resting upon US. We shall learn ane
profit by the lesson of every expert
ence and every new circumstances;
and what is needed will be Adequately
done.
| Great Duties Of Peace.
close, as began. by reminding
you of the great tasks and duties o
peace which challenge our best pow
ers and invite us to build what viii
last, the tasks to which we can addres.
ourselves now and at all times the
free-hearted zest and with all the fin
est gifts of constructive wisdom we
possess. To develop our life and oul
resources; to supply our own people
and the people CT the world as theil
need arises. from the abundant plenty
of our fields and our marts of trade
to enrich the commerce of our owr
states and of the world with the prod
ucts of our mines, our farms, and oul
factories, with the creations of oul
thought and the fruits of our charac
ter-this is wha. will hold our atten
ton and our enthusiasm steadily. nov
and in the years to come, as we strive
to show in our life as a nation wha
liberty and the inspirations of al
emancipated spirit may do for mer
and for societies, for individuals. fo
/ states, and for mankind
I Russian Woman MARTYR