Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-12-17

meant by being prepared? Is it meant
that we are not READY upon 9pSd ori ea+i ho.c Ct
men trained to arms? OF course we are
not ready to do that, and we shall never
be in o time ars OF peace na1,, SO io prin an @e and and
institutions. And what is 1T that IT Is
suggested We should be prepared 70 40!
To defend ourselves against attack? we
have always found means to do that, ana
shall find them whenever 1T Is necessary
without calling our people away IRON
their necessary tasks to render compul
sorry military service in times OF peace.
Allow me to speak with great plain
ter and to avow my convictions with
deep earnestness. ! have tried 10 KNOW
what America is, what her people thlnR,
what they are. what they most cherish
and hold dear. l hope that some or their
finer passions are in my own heaft-
some of the great coneeeptions and desires
which gave birth to this government ana
which nave made the voice OF TINS PEG
pie Il voice OF peace and nope ana lpertS
among the peoples OF the Morloi a ehan una at
least, in part, speak theirs also, now
ever family and inadequately' upon
this vital matter.
AFRAID OF Nobody.
We are at peace With all the world. No
one who speaks counsel based on iact
or drawn from a just and candid inter
Is reason to fear that from any guar.
ter our independence or the Integrity OF
our territory is threatened. Dread OF
lIV poNCi VI GiiS oSiiS AhA' -.
incapable of. We are not jealous of rival
~ in the fields OF commerce or OF any
to live our own lives as we will; but
also TO let live. We are, indeed, a true
friend to all the nations of the world,
because we threaten none, covet the pos
sessions of none, desire the overthrow
of none. Our friendship can be accepted
and is accepted without reservation, be
cause it is offered in Il spirit and for
ton or suspect: Therein lies our great
ana 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 that this char
acter and reputation may presently, in
Gods proyidence bring us an oppor-
safed any nation, the opportunity 70
counsel and obtain peace, in the world
ment of many q matter that has cooled
and interrupted the friendship of ma
tons. This is the time above all others
when we should wish and resolve to keep
our strength by self possession, our in
fuence by preserving our ancient prln-
From the first we have had a clear and
settled policy with regard to military
establishments, We never nave had. and
and ideals, we never shall have a large
standing army. If asked ARE you ready
to defend yourselves?' we reply, most
shall not turn America into n military
camp. We will not ask our young men
to spend the best Years Of their i, lives
another sort Of energy in us. 1t 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 con,
tagratlon very definite and certain ana
adequate indeed.
Favors Strong Army.
Let us remind ourselves, therefore, OF
the only thing We can dc. or will do, We
mus, is enc f in ever = time tn fns Of ns natio maj
upon Il standing army, nor yet upon a re
serve army, but upon n citizenry trained
and accustomed to arms. 1t will be right
enough, right American policy, based
upon our accustomed principles and prac-
tees, to provide a system by which every
citizen who will volunteer for the train
ing may be made familiar with the use
of modern arms, the r%udiments of drili
and maneuver, and the maintenance and
age such training and make it a means
of discipline which our, young men will
make it as attractive as possible, and
so induce our young men to undergo it
at SUCH times as they can command a
little freedom and can seek the physical
development theN. need, for mere healths
sake, # for nothi9g more; Every means
is legitimate, and such a method slnacks
of true American IDEAS. 1t is right, too.
JlaI JNG IN1llDildl trllFu Oh IEle States
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 it should be our
for our national peace and safety.
More than this carries with it a reversal
polity. More than this, proposed at this
time, permit me to say, would mean
merely that we had lost our self-posseS-
ancc BY a war with which we have moth
ing to do, whose causes can not touch us,
whose very existence affords us oppor,
service which should make us ashamed OF
any thought of hostility or fearful prep
aration for trouble. This is assured1y the
opportunity for which a people and a gov
eminent like Ours were raised up, the OPP
porturity not only to speak but actually
to embody and eSemplify the counsels OF
3 peace and unity and the lasting concord
2 which is based on justice and fair and
} generous dealing.
: For Strong Navy.
) A powerful navy we have always re-
sarded as our proper and natural means
$ of defense: and it has always been of de-
y Tense that we have thought never of ag-
erosion or of conquest. But who shall
tell us row what sort of navy to build?
! We shall take leave to be strong upon the
: seas, in, the future as In the past; and
Ithere will be no thought of offense or of
prOvOcatlon IN that. Our SHIPS are our
4 natural buIwarks. When will the experts
tell us just what kind we should construct
and when win they he right for 10 years
3 together, If the relative efficiency of craft
q Of different kinds and uses continues to
. change as we have seen it change under
d 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
5 cuss it. We shall not alter our attitude
toward it because some amongst US are
nervous and excited. We shall easily
4 md sepsibly agree upon a policy of de-
tense. The question has not changed its
aspects :becarse the times are not normal.
Our policy Will not be for an occasion. 1t
q will be conceived as a pernianent and
settled thing. which we will pursue at all
seasons. without haste and after a fashion
perfectly consistent with the peace Of the
q world. the abiding friendship of states.
q and the ~unhanpered freedom Of all with
whom we deal. Let there be no miscon-
%ception. The country has been rnisin-
4 formed. We hav rot been negligent OF
national defense. We are not unnindful
of the great responsibility resting upon us
We shall leern and profit by the lesson OF
= every experience and every new circum-
i stsrce: and what is needed will be ade-
v -. r L,r,- b,~ ro1,i,a;,,. ,,a, ~