Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1914-12-10

the money u being spent for objects
of which they approve. and that ii Ii
being applied with good business
sense and management.
The sort of economy We ought 10
practice may Be effected. ard ought ii
be effected. by careful studs and
assessment III the tasks to be pers
formed: and the naeney spent ought
10 be made 10 yiaid the best possible
returns In efficiency and achievement
And, like good stewards, we should
90 accent Tor every dollar os our ap
preparations as 10 make Ii perfectly
evident what Ii was spent Tor and IN
what way II was spent.
Ii ID not expenditure but extraya.
gance that we should fear being eriti.
ciRed for: not paying for the iegisi-
mate enterprises and undertakings 81
. great government whose people
command what IL should do. but add
ing what will benefit only few or
pouring money out t0r what need NOT
have been undertaken al all or might
have been postponed NJ better ana
more economically conceived and carss
ried out. The nation ii not niggardlg:.
II IL very generous. II will chida us
only IL We forget for whom We pay
money out and whose money II II wes
pay.
These are large and general stand
ards, but they are NOT very difficult Of
application 20 particular cases.
The Natural Defense.
The other topic shall take leave To
mention goes deeper into the princi.
pies Of our national life and policy.
n IL the subject of national defense.
II cannot be discussed without first
answering some very searching CUES.
lions,
II Is said In some quarters that We
are not prepared for war. What II
meant by being pFeparedg II Ii meant
that we are not ready upon brief no
tiee To put d nation In the field, d M,
ton OF men trained 10 arms or
course We are not ready to do that.
and We shall never De hi time OF
peace 20 long as We retain our pres.
ent Political principles and institu.
tons, And what Ii Ii that II II sug.
gested we should be prepared to do?
To defend ourselves against astacky
We have always found means TO 90
that. and shall md Them whenever III
Is necessary without calling our PEG.
pie away from their necessary tasks
to render compulsory military service
In times of peace.
Allow me to speak with great plain.
ness and directness Upon this great
matter and TO ayow my convictions
with deep earnestness ! have tried
to know what America is, what her
people think. what they are, what
they most cherish. and hold dear,
hope that some of their finer passions
are In my own heart, some oil the
great conceptions and desires which
gave birth to this government and
which have made tile voice DIT this
| people voice Of peace and hope and
liberty among the peoples Of tht
world, and that, speaking my own
thoughts. | shall, al least IN part
speak theirs also, however. family and
inadequately, upon this vital matter
Fear No Nation.
We are at peace with ali the world
No one who speaks counsel based
on fact or drawn from a Just and
candid Interpretation OF realities
can say that there liz reason for feat
that from any quarter our indepen
dence or the integrity Of our territory
lis threatened Dread Of the power
OF any other nation we are incapable
Of We are not jealous Of rivalry In
the fields of commerce or or any other
peaceful achievement. We mean Ia
live our lives as we will, but we mean
also 10 let live. We are, indeed. 4
true friend to all the nations eg the
world, because we threaten none
ccpet the possessions off none, desire
the overthrow of none Cur friend
snip can be accepted and ia accepted
without reservation. because II ID of
ferea In spirit and for q purpose
which ne one need ever question or
suspect. Therein lies our greatness
We are the champions Of peace and
of concord And We should be very
jealous or this distinction which we
have sought To earn. Jnst now we
should be particularly Jealous on it
because IL Ia our dearest present hope
that this character and reputation
may presently, iii Gods providence
bring us an opportunity to counsel
and obtain peace In the world and
reconciliation and b healing settle
rnent OF man matter that has cooled
and interrupted the friendship oil
nations This ID the time above all
others when we should wish and re-.
solve 10 keep our strength by selfpos.
session, our influence by preserving
our ancient principles OF action
Ready Tor Defense.
From the FIRST we have had clear
and settled policy with regard to
military establishments. We never
have had, and while We retain our
present principles and ideals VIE never
shall have, a large standing army.