South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-12-09
LIE PREsIpENT,s AIEssAGE.


Hvered TO the senate and the house
yesterday. is marked by the usual
ealmness. conservatism. hrmness.
breadth Of view The war, naturally.
is the leading topic. but other matters
Of vital Importance 10 the nation. are
y no means overlooked. He is still
the forward looking president The
past is referred to only incidentally,
IN commentator Of its achievements
Experience is admitted essential TO a
full test of the work Ii is a plea to
patriotic citizens TO unite and give the
principles involved a fair trial. that
we may know finally what is best for
the country. regardless of partisan
bias. and in spite Of political intrigue
The message coming from the chief
executive OF the nation, is a message
TO the whole people. As the leader
OF the democracy Of the nation, it is
especially message to the democratic
party, and citizens in general, and
democrats in particular. should ponder
il with care. The merchant marine,
conservatism. Improvement of water
ways. rural credits, commerce incident
10 the war. the war itself and our
preparedness for defense, the Philip
pine and Alaskan question, and finally
economy in government expenditures
these are all questions of vital i'm
portance 10 the American people. You
may not accord with the president in
all his views, but he is entitled to
respectful hearing, and it is not always
the perusaI OF that with which you
fully agree that does you the most
good
Sane counsel-that is enough to say
for it, We have neglected our mer-
chant marine. yes. That everybody
knows. Congress is asked to remedy
that neglect. and. the plan is to rem
edy il in such a way that it will be Of
benefit to industry and the public well
fare. rather than, as has often been
proposed, 10 merely line the pockets
Of steamship builders and owners. In
ike manner the Conservation of our
sources are TO include development,
ot so much for private gain, but in
Kramer that will enhance the en-
1loyment. convenience and welfare of
the whole people. One might go on
down the list, epitomizing the entire
message. but let the message, which is
now common property. speak for il
SELF.
However. we especially like that
part of the presidents message which
refers to our preparedness for war at
This time, when there is no war TO
prepare for. There appears an under
current OF diplomatic knowledge in
the presidents reference to our ten
tency TO mind our own business, and
not NEEDLE in other peoples affairs,
as the best national defense available.
As a peace-abiding people, not jealous
of the commercial successes of other
lands. nor meddling with their mill
tarisn or ornaments, presuming that
we should run their affairs, we are in
small danger OF being troubled, which
is as much as 10 say, though the
president does not venture the re-
mark. that such a course pursued by
the waring powers of Europe might
have averted the conflict that is giving
certain Of our statesmen such an
awful scare.
And there YOU have it. 1t IS not
alone a question of which of the
powers precipitated the war, but all
OF them have been preparing Tor it
for years. and nagging each other up
TO IT, until the precipitation was
comparatively easy affair. Justice is
the best armament in The world Fair
dealing is the best security. The pres
ident discusses a reasonable navy and
n certain amount OF military training,
but not on such a scale as 10 demon
mate us as looking for, or preparing
for trouble.
What we need more is preparation
for peace. Ours is the big opportunity
OF all history for settlement OF world
difHculties We need 20 pursue that
apportunity in practice as well as pre-
eept. We cannot well counsel disarm-
ament while ourselves pursuing an
armament program 90 the very hilt.
IL looks 10 us, this position OF the
presidents. like being well invested
with Christian consistency il is
consistency that extends 10 other mat
-ers as well. The ten lency an the way
through is TO look through and beyond
immediate contact. in the working out
OF administration plans, and TO study
effects upon mankind more in general
and remote.
The president if he continues along
this line bids fair that this nation
which boasts Of being Christian. may
yet come 10 be reasonably SO, in fact
as well as In name.
OUT OF ITS ELEMENT.
Pres't Wilson is looking with calm