The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1914-12-10

/ lions. re ls said In some quarters that
we are not prepared for war. What Is
tSss oy ARE se no Tssds pon Is ! nees
to put nation In the field. q nation Of
men trained to arms? OF course we are
be in time OF r. peace 50 long as we rer
tain our present political principles and
institutions. And what Is II that IL is
To defend ourselves against attack? We
shall fnd them whenever il is necessary
their necessary tasks TO render compul.
| sorry military service in times OF peace.
Allow me 70 speak with great plain
4 ness and directness upon this great mat
ter and to avow my convictions with
deep earnestness. / have tried to know
what america is What her people cb think
and hold dear. ! hope that some q their
finer passions are IN ny own hea a,t-
when gaHe srfh to tSs and
which have made the voice of this peo-
pie voice OF peace and hope and liberty
| speaking my own thoughts, I shall, at
least, in part. speak theirs also. how
ever family and tnadequately, upon
this vital matter.
| Afraid Of Nobody.
We are at peace with all the world. No
| one who speaks counsel based on fact
| or drawn from a just and candid inter
Il
Is reason to fear that from any quar-
| ter our independence or the integrity OF
our territory. is threatened. Dread of
| incapable OF. we are not jealous Of rival
ry in the fields of commerce or of any
other peaceful achievement. We. mean
| to live our own lives as we viii: but
also to let live. We are, indeed, true
| friend to all the nations OF the world,
we e nGn sns
of none. Our friendship can be accepted
| and is accepted without reservation, be-
cause it is offered in spirit and for
ton or suspect. Therein lies our great
| ness. We are the champions OF peace
jealous of this distinction which we have
| sought to earn Just now we should be
particularly jealous OF It, because 4 Is
acter and reputation may presently, In
Gods providence, bring US an oppor-
tunity such as has seldom been .vouch-
counsel and obtain peace in the world
and reconciliation and healing settle
ment Of many 2 matter ma that has cooled
TONS This Is the time above all others
when we should wish and resolve to keep
our strength by self possession. our IN
huence by preserving our ancient prin-
ciples of action.
From the first we have had clear and
estabishmenis. We never have had. and
and ideals we never shall have. large
to defend yourselves?" we reply. most
assuredly, to the utmost" and yet we
shall not turn America into military
to spend the best years of their lives
making soldiers of themselves. There Is
another sort of energy in us. IT will
itself effective should occasion arise. And
especially when half the world is on fire
we shall be careful to make our moral
inctR 40 n oaf n af hn n
flagration very definite and certain and
adequate indeed ...
Favors Strong Army. #
Let us remind ourselves, therefore, of
the only thing we can do or will do We
peril. in the future as in the past, not
upon standing army, nor yet upon a re-
and accustomed to arms. It viii be right
enough, right American policy, based
upon our accustomed principles and prac-
citizen who will volunteer for the train
ing may be made familiar with the use
of modern arms, the rudiments OF drill
sanitation OF camps. We should encour-
age such training and make IL a means
of discipline which our young men will
learn to value. 1t is right that we should
provide il not only but that we should
make II as attractive as possible, and
so induce our young men to undergo 1t
at such times as they can command
little freedom and can seek the physical
development they need, for mere healths
bn Which ,o sueH S' things can be V stImuated
is legitimate, and such method sInacks
of true American ideas. 1t is right. too.
should be developed and strengthened by
every means which Is not inconsistent
with our obligations to our own people or
with the established policy of our gov
eminent. And this, Also not because the
time or occasion specially calls for such
measures, but because IL should be our
constant policy to make these provisions
for our national peace and safety.
More than this carries with Ii a reversal
of the whole history and character of our
polity. More than this, proposed at this
time, permit me to say, would mean
merely that we bad lost our self-posses-
sion, that we had heen thrown off our bal
ance by a war with which we have moth
ing to do. whose causes can not touch us,
whose very existence affords us oppor-
tunities of friendship and disinterested
service which should make us ashamed OF
any thought OF hostility or fearful prep
aration for trouble. This is assuredly the
opportunity for which a people and gov
portunity not only to soeak but actually
to embodv and eXemplify the counsels or
peace and amity and the lasting concord
which is based on justice and fair and
generous dealing.
For Strong Navy.
A powerful navy we have always re-
garded as our proper and natural means
of defense; and It has always been OF de-
Tense that we have thought. never or ag-
gression 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, I'm the future as In the past; and
there will be no thought of offense or of
p-ovocation In that. Our ships are our
natural bulwarks. When will the experts
tell us Just what kind we should construct
and when will thew he right for 10 years .
together, If the relative efficiency of craft
OF different kinds and uses continues to
change as we have seen II change under
our very eyes In these last few months?
But I turn away from the subject. 1t
is not new. There is no new need to dis
cuss It, We shall not alter our attitude
toward II because some AMONGST us are
nervous and excited. We shall easily
and ssnsibly agree upon a policy of de-
tense The question has not changed its
aspects because the times are not normal"
Our policy will not be for an occasion. IL
will be conceived as a permanent and
settled thing, which we will pursue at all
| seasons without haste and after a fashion
perfectly consistent with the peace of the
world. the abiding friendship of states,
| and the unhampered freedom of all with
whom we deal. Let there be no miscon-
ception The country has been misin-
| formed. We have rot been negllgent OF
national defense. We are not unmindful
| of the great responsibility resting upon us.
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