The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1914-12-11
Continued from page 81

ouiSSINtH uSHlilSt utldth! we udFt al
ways found means to do that anO
shall find them whenever II is neces
sary without calling our people 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 avow my convictions
with deep earnestness. | have tried
to know what America is, what her
people think, what they are. what the.
most cherish and hold dear hope
that some of their finer passions are in
my own heart-some of the great con
ceptions and desires which gave birth
to this government and which have
made the voice Of this people voice
of peace and hope and liberty among
the peoples of the world and that
speaking my own thoughts. | shall. al
least In part, speak theirs also, how
ever family and inadequately. upon
this vital matter
We are at peace with all the world
No one who speaks counsel based on
fact or drawn from just and candid
Interpretation of realities can say thai
there is reason to fear that from any
quarter our independence or the integ
rity of our territory is threatened
Dread of the power OF any other ma
ton we are incapable of We are no,
Jealous of rivalry in the fields of com
merce or Of any other peaceful achieve
ment. We mean to live our own lives
as we will. but we mean also to lei
live. We are. indeed. true friend tc
all the nations OF the world. because
we threaten none, covet the posses
sions of none, desire the overthrow OF
none.
Our friendship can be accepted and
is accepted without reservation, be
cause 1t is offered In spirit and fol
purpose which no one need evel
question or suspect Therein lies oul
greatness We are the champions OF
peace and 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 1t, because 1t is our dearest present
hope that this character and reputation
may presently, In Gods providence
bring us an opportunity such as has
seldom been vouchsafed any nation
the opportunity to counsel and obtain
peace In the world and reconciliation
and a healing settlement of many .
matter that has cooled and interrupt
ed the friendship Of nations. This is
the time above all others when we
should wish and resolve to keep ouI
strength by self possession. our tntu
ence by preserving our ancient princi
piles of action.
From the first we have had clear
and settled policy with regard to mill.
tary establishments. We never have
had. and while we retain our present
principles and ideals we never shall
have. large standing army. Ii asked.
Are you ready to defend yourselvesi
we reply. Most assuredly; to the ut.
most. And yet We shall not turn
America into a military camp. We
will not ask our young men to spend
the best years of their lives making
soldiers of themselves There is an
other 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 olll
moral insurance against the spread ot
the con1agration very definite and Ger
tain and adequate indeed
Let US remind ourselves, therefore
of the only thing we can do or will do
We must depend in every time of M
tional peril. In the future as In the
past, not upon standing army nor yet
upon reserve army. but upon a citi
zenry trained and accustomed to arms
It will be right enough. right American
policy, based upon our accustomed
principles and practices, to provide a
system by which every citizen who
will volunteer for the training may Ue
made familiar with the use OF modern
srms, the rudiments of drill aud INA
leuver aud the maintenance and saul |
alton of camps We should encourage |
uch training ana make II a means Ut |
discipline which our young men will |
Aarn to value.
I Is right that we should provide II
Eonly. but that we should make II
attractive as possible, and SO Induce
r Young men to undergo II at such
ines as they can command little
reedom and can seek the physical d.
they need. for mere health
axe. If for nothing more. Every
means by which such things can be
INUNDATED Is legitimate. and Stl@h
sssshoc sma( of true American ideas
"a Thar the national guard 1
y SRsShould be developed and
"a rtIied by every means which is
n inconsistent with our obligations
ssbur swn people or with the esta0
Bed policy of our government. and
D. also not because the time or occa
a. specially calls for such measures.
4 because it should be our constant
ksy TO make these provisions for our
II nal peace and safety.
n re than this carries with II a re-
"A of the whole history and char
" of our pelity. More than this.
m osed at this time, permit me tn
" would mean merely that we had :
"A our self possession, that we bad !