The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-09

BEFORE I close may say a few words
upon two topics. much discussed out OF
doors upon which II is highly important
that our judgments should be clear, def
mite and steadfast?
"One OF these IL economy in govern
ment expenditures. The duty Of economy
~ not debatable. II IL manifest and i'm
perative. In the appropriations we pass
we are spending the money OF the great
people whose servants we are-not our
| own. We are trustees and responsible
stewards In the spending. The only
| thing debatable and upon which we
should be careful to make our thought
I and purpose clear Ia the kind OF econ
| omy demanded OF us l assert with the
| greatest confidence that the people OF the
| United States are not Jealous OF the
amount their Government costs II they
are sure that they get what they need
and desire for the outlay. that the money
| Is being spent for objects OF which they
approve and that II is being applied with
good business sense and management.
| Governments grow piecemeal. both In
| their tasks and in the means By which
| those tasks are to be performed. and very
| few Governments are organized. ven
| ture to say. as wise and experienced
! business men would organize them II
they had a clean sheet of paper to write
! upon. Certainly the Government OF the
! United States IL not
II think that 1t is generally agreed
| that there should be a systematic reor-
ganzation and reasscmbling OF its parts
| So as to secure greater efficiency ana
effect considerable savings in expense.
| Rut the amount OF money saved In that
way would believe. though no doubt
considerable In itself. running IL may
be into the millions, he relatively small
small mean. In proportion to the total
necessary OUTLAWS OF the Government. II
| would he thoroughly worth effecting. as
every saving would great or small Our
! duty Is not altered by the scae or the
saving.
But my point IA that the people OF
the United States do not wish TO curtai!
the activities Of this Governnent they
wish rather 10 enlarge them; and with
every enlargement. with the mere growth
indeed Of the country itself there must
come OF course the inevitable increase Of
TO practise may be effected and ought
20 praCtise may be effected and ought
20 he effected by careful study and as
sessment OF the tasks to be performed .
and the money spent ought 10 he made TO
yield the best possible returns In efficiency
and achievement And. like good stew
ards we should so account for every dol
lar of our appropriations as 10 make II
perfectly evident what it was spent for
and In what way Il was spent.
at Is not expenditure but extravaganza
not paying for the legitimate enterprises
and Undertakings Of great Government
! whose people command what IL should do,
but adding what will benefit only few
or pouring money out for what need not
have been undertaken at all or might have
been postponed or better and more eco
nomically conceived ana carried out. The
I nation is not niGgardly. II Is very gen
erous. II will chide US only II We forget
, for whom We pay money out and whose
= money IT is we pay. These are large and
general standards. hut they are not very
/ difficult % application to particular cases.
: National Defence.
, 1.-THE other topic l shall take leave To
mention goes deeper into the principles
of our national life and policy. IL Ia the
4 subject of national defence.
I at cannot be discussed without first
E answering some very sefrchinG questions
\ II IL said in some quarters that We are
8 not prepared for war. What Is mean,
BY being prepared? Ia II meant that we
are not ready upon brief notice to PVT
nation in the field. nation OF men
I trained to arms? OF course We are no;
a ready to do that; and we shall never be
8 in time OF peace so long as We retain our
I present political principles and institu-
g lions And what is II that Il is suggested
: we should be prepared TO do? To defend
o ourselves against attack We nave a.
y ways found means to do that and shall
r ind them whenever II is necessary with
{ out calling our people away from thei'
o necessary tasks to render compulsory mil
a itary service in times OF peace
= Allow me to speak with great plain
q ness and directness upon this great mat
n ter and TO avuw my convictions with
y deep cArnrstness | have tried to know
what America Is what her people think
r what they are. what they most cherish
. and hold dear hope that some OF thci
= finer passions are In my own heart
i, some of the great conceptions and desire,
u which gave birth to this Government anC
;, which have made the voice OF this people
u II voice OF peace and hope and liberty
:, among the peoples of the world. and than
- speaking my own thoughts, | shall. a
4, least IN part. speak theirs also. howcye
:. family and inadequately, upon this vita
a matter.
M Reason TO Frpr Invasion.
d We arc at peace with all the world
4 No one who speaks counsel based on fac
e or drawn from a Just and candid In
depreciation OF realities can say tina
I there Is reason to fear that from an!
o quarter our independence or the integri,,
q OF our territory Is threatened. Dread o
a the power OF any other nation we are In
10 capable of. We are not Jealous Of rivalr!
u In the fields Of commerce OF OF any othc
= peaceful achievement. We mean to lv
: our own lives as We will, but we meai
also to lest live. We are, indeed. a tru,
=.