Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1914-12-12

the training may be made familiar
with the use Of modern arms. the rudi-
ments of drill and maneuver. and the
maintenance and sanitation Of camps.
We should encourage such training
and make It means OF discipline
which our young men will learn to
value. II is right that we should pro
| vide 1t not only, but that we should
make It as attractive as possible. and
so induce our young men 20 undergo
II at such times as they can command
a little freedom and can seek the
! physical development they need. for
mere hcaitu's sake. II for nothing
more. Every means by which such
! things can be stimulated Is legitimate.
! and sucn a method smacks of true
/ American ideas. 7, IS right. too.
| that the National Guard OF the states
| should be developed and strengthened
by every means which IS not iucon.
sistent with our obligations to our
| own people or with the established
! policy Of our government. And this.
/ also, not because the time or occasion
specially calls for such measures. but
because II should be our constant pol
'cy TO make those provisions for our
national peace and safety.
More than this carries with II a re-
'erSal of the whole history and char
acter of our polity. More than this.
proposed at this time. permit me 10
ny. would mean merely that we had
los, our possession. that we had
been thrown off our balance by a war
".'h which we have nothing to do.
whose causes cannot touch us. whose
very existence affords us opportun-
tiles o. friendship and disinterosted
service which should make us
ashamed Of any thought Of hostility
or fearful preparation for trouble.
This is assuredly the opportunity for
which II people and a government like
ours were raised up, the opportunity
not only to speak hut actually to en-
holy and cycmplify the Counscls OF
peace and amity and the lasting con-
cord which is based on justice and fair
and generous dealing.
Ships Our Natural Bulwarks.
4 powerful navy We have always !
regarded as orr proper and natural .
means Of defense; and It has always /
been Of defense that we have thought. /
never Of aggression or % conquest. /
But who shall tell rs now what sort /
Of navy 10 build? We shall take leave /
TO be strong upon the seas. in the /
future as I'm the past, and there will /
be no thought Of offense or of provo |
cation in that Our shiUs are our |
natural hulwarks. When will the ev-
perts tel us Just what kind we should .
construct-and when VIII they be
right for ten years together, if the
relative efficiency Of craft of differ
ent kinds and uses continues to
change as We have seen II change
under over very eyes il these last
few months?
But | turn away from the subject.
1t is not new. There is no new need
to discuss it. We shall not alter our
attitude toward it because some
amongst US are nervous and excited.
We shall easily and sensibly agree
upon a policy OF defense. The ques-
ton has not changed its aspects be-
cause the times are not normal Our
policy will not be for an occasion.
1t will be conceived as n permanent
and settled thing, which we will pur-
sue at all seasons, without haste and
after a fashion perfectly consistent
with the peace OF the world, the abid-
ing friendship of states, and the I'M
hampered freedom OF all with whom
We deal Let there be no mlsconcep- !
ton. The country has been misin-
formed. We have not been negligent
OF national defense We are not I'M
mindful of the great responsibility
resting upon US. We shall learn and ,
profit by the lesson OF every exper-
ence and every new circumstance;
and what is needed will be adequately
done.
Great Duties Of Peace.
l close, as | began, by reminding .
you of the great tasks and duties Of
peace which challenge our best powers
and invite us to build what will last,
the tasks to which we can address
now and at all times the ,
free-hearted zest and with all the fin .
est gifts of constructive wisdom 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 abundant plenty
If our fields and our marts of trade:
% enrich the commerce of our own
states and of the world with the prod.
lcts of our mines. our farms, and our
actories, with the creations OF our
thought and the fruits of our charac
er-this is what will hold our atten
ion and our enthusiasm steadily, now
md in the years to come, as we strive
o show in our life as a nation what
liberty and the inspirations of an
spirit may do for men
fnv-