Crittenden record-press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1909-191?, 1914-12-10
PRESIDENT OPPOSED TO
BIG STANDING ARMY.
Speaks Plainly and Directly on Cues.
ton OF National Defsnssa

Speaks Plainly and Directly on Cues.
ton Of National Defense.
The other topc shall mke leave
TO mention gues deeper into the prln
ciples OF our national life and policy
II Is the subject OF national defense
II cannot bc discussed without nrsi
answering some very searching ques
ions II Is said 10 some quarters tsat
We are not prepared for war What IL
meant by be.tg IreparcLi IL II meant
that We are not ready upon brief no
tice TO put nation IN the Geld. q ma
ton Of men trained 10 afmsl or
course We are not ready 10 do that.
and we shall never be In time Of peace
~ long A. We rrtain our present po'it
ical principles and institutions And
what II II that II II suggested we
should ~ prepared 20 do defend
ourselves against attack We have al
ways found means 10 DO that and
shall End them whenever II il nccr-
sary without calling our people away
from their necessary tasks TO reudrf
compulsory military service 10 time.
OF pence.
Allow me 10 speak with great main
ness and dlrectne,. upon thts great
matter and 10 a,Uw ny convictions
with deep carucstne~s have tired
10 know what America Il. what her
people think. what they are. what they
most Chvrsh aud hold d,at hope
that some N their hucr passions arc 10
ny owr heart some N 'hr rrrai CON
t.noar and d,..irr. which gave bir'h
o. th', suyyruWyu' uui vnth have
made ihe .u,rr ~ tEi- pcrp.r % voice
OF peace aui hupr aud rau, umnr.
the peoples ~ the word uud tUtt
spcrs'ra ry owl lhuulbt,. ,11U ut
least Boo pm. ,rrls tucI,, also how
ever ialntN uHi iunt,uIlicy. upon
this vital uH'tcr
We are 90 rvnr" Win gll the world
No ore VITO sIr1E- counsel rn-rl ur.
fact ur drawn r,u 1 ir.i rrI .rr'.'
Interpretation 81 nrf''i,, r.r .rt iA..
there Is reason o. ir"f 'lH' Hur 1000,
quarter unf ~ ,'I'rlrr.r ur 'N. 'rirr
ri'y ~ our territory IL 'rr,rrrr"
Dread ~ the power ~ ans other Do.
ton We are iua1Mule ~ We Hrr mo-
Jealous ~ rivalry Co.. the Hr.ls ut com
mcrCc ur ~ nuy other tcncctu. achieve
meut We mean 90 live our own i've.
a. We viii but ve mean also ~ Ipi
live. We nrc indeed o. true ftrrl POI
all the nations ~ tie world rv,aus,
We threaten nome covct the pussc.
siuus VI none, desire the overthrow ~
none
Our friendship can H. accepted and
Is accepted without reservation. be-
rause u IL offered In spirI' and fDr
PURPOSE which no me need rvrr
/ question ~ SUSPECT Therein les uu'
gre tr'Ss We are the champions ui
peace and OF concutd. And W. should
be very ieRlors u this distinction
which We uRCe sought 20 earn Just
now We should be ps rticulat'y icnlnu,
" 4. br"6use II II our dcntrs, rrcsent
hope that thiS character and reputation
may presently. IN Gods hence
bring ~ an opportunity such os ha.
seldom been ronrh-Afcd any nation
the opportunity 10 counsel and obtain
peace IN the world and reconciliation
and heating settlement ~ many a
/ matter that has cuui'd and lnterrupt
ed the Friendship ~ nations This 1.
the time above MI Others when W
should wish aud resolve 10 keep Our
strength ny self possession. cur innu
encr by preserving 90, ancient princi
plies NJ nctirn
From the hrst we have had clrar
aud settled policy with regard TO mill
tary establishments We never have
had, aud while We retain our present
principles and ideals We never shnll
have large standing army n asked
Are YOU ready 10 defend yourSrl,c,
We reply. Most nssuodr, Ia the NJ
most And yet W. shull not turu
America into o military camp We
will hot ask our yuuug men ~ sr ud
The best years IT thcit IVES making
soldiers Of themselves There Z, an
),hrr sort At cr"'gy m 70, 10 vii
know how H. declare t,ri Nud mlE,
tsclf effective should occasion arts,
And especially when tail the world 1.
IN tlrr We shalt hr careful :, mike nul
moral insurance against the spread vi
! he conilngratun very definite und Ger
ain and adequate indeed
Let NJ remind ourselves, therefore
u the only thing we can de- ~ viii do
We must depend In every time Of mn
;ionnl peril. In the future NJ In N,
past, not upon n standing army nor ye,
upon reserve army. but upon n clti
tenry trsined and accustomed TO arms