East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1914-12-08

|
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 another sort OF energy in us. It
| 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 conflagratlon very
definite and certain and adequate, in
deed.
Let US remind ourselves therefore,
OF the only thing we can do or will
do. We must depent in every time
Of national peril, in the future as in
the past, not upon a standing army.
nor yet upon a reserve army, but up
| on a citizenry trained and accustom-
ed to arms. II will be right enough,
right American policy, based on our
accustomed principles and practices.
| TO provide q system by which every
citizen who will volunteer for train
ing may be made familiar with the
use OF modern arms, and the rudi-
ments of drill and maneuver, and
the maintenance and sanitation OF
camps. We should encourage such
training and make Il a means OF dis
cipline which our young men will
know how TO value. II is right that
we should provide 1t not only, but that
we should make II as attractive as
possible and so induce our young
men to undergo II at such times as
they can command a little freedom
and seek the physical develop
ment they need for mere health's
sake. II for nothing more. Every
means by which such things can be
stimulated is legitimate and such a
method smacks OF true American
ideas. II is right, too, that the ma
tional guard OF the 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
ernment And this, also, not be-
cause the time or occasion especial
~ calls for such measures. but be-
cause It should be our constant pol
icy to make the provisions for our
national peace and safety.
More than this carries with II a
reversal of the whole history and
character of our policy. More than
this, proposed at this time, permit me
to say. would mean that We had lost
our self possession. that we had been
thrown off our balance by a war
with which we have nothing to do,
whose causes cannot touch US, whose
existence affords US opportunities Of
/ friendship and dlsinterested service
which should make us ashamed OF
any thought of hostility or fearful
preparation for trouble. This is as
suredly the opportunity for which a
people and a government like ours
were raised up, the opportunity not
/ only to speak but actually to embody
and exemplify the counsels Of peace
and entity and the lasting concord
which is based on justice and fair
end generous dealing.
A Powerful Navy.
A powerful navy We have always
regarded as our proper and natural
means Of defense and It has always
been OF defense that we have thought
never of aggression or Of conquest
Who shall tell us what sort
of a navy to build? We shall take
leave to be strong upon the seas in
the future as in the past and there
will be no thought Of offense or OF
provocation in that Our ships are
our natural bulwarks. When will
the experts tells us just what kind
we should construct-and when shall
they be right for ten years altogether
II the efficiency Of craft of different
kinds and uses continues TO change
as We have seen II change under our
very eyes in these last few months?
But turn away from the subject.
II is not new. There is now new need
to discuss ii. We shall not alter our
attitude toward it because some
amongst us are nervous and excited.
We shall easily and sensibly
agree upon n policy of defense. The
question has not changed its aspect
because the times are not normal
our policy will not be for an occa-
sion 1t will be conceived as a per-
manent and settled thing, which we
will pursue at all seasons, without
haste and after a fashion perfectly
consistent with the peace of the
world. the abiding friendship OF
states, and the unhampered freedom
of all with whom we deal Let there
be no misconception. The country
has been misinformed. We have not
been negligent Of national defense
We are not unmindful OF the great
responsibility resting upon u.s. wei
shall learn and profit by the lesson
of every experience and every new
circumstance and what is needed will
be adequately done.
l close, as 1 began, by reminding
you Of the great tasks and duties OF
peace which challenge our best pow
erS and invite us to build what viii
last, the tasks to which we can ad-
dress ourselves now and at all times
with free hearted zest and with all
the finest gifts OF constructive wis
dom we possess. To develop our life
and our resources. TO supply our own
people, and the people of the world.
as their need arises, from the abund
ant plenty OF our fields and our marts
of trade, to enrich the commerce OF
our states and of the world with the
products of our mines, our farms and
our factories, with the creations OF our
thought and the fruits OF our char
is what will hold our at
tention and our enthusiasm steadily
now and in the years to come, as we
strive to show in our life as nation