The Alaska daily empire., 1914-12-19

At tho presenl ume tll Pise.
 of the United ssatoc ie filled with
 agitation and opPosItlon 10 the
 now famoua avsar PreParednees
 campaign Of certain members of
 congress.
 Recently Preoldent Wilson told
 esllets that he had no objection
 to the proper Kind of an Inquiry
 Into the prepsredneso of tho Unit.
 ed states for war, but no eald,
 he wants the public to know the
 facts, but does not want any for
 olgn nation to take onense at
 tho mauner h which theoo facts
 arc obtained.
 He is oppoeed to the Gardner
 resoi.tion beeaues there Was par
 tloaiAhlp in the campaign Of the
 Mas5aehueotts representative. He
 does not think, however, that the
 National Civic Federation 10 snl'
 mated by any motive than
 genuine deslre to get at the faeto
 In lie advocaey of council or
 national defence.
 President Wilson's views on national defence arc beat shown in his address to Congress, part of which, 8 re published here, as follows:
 l take leave to mention what be Heve is the principle of our natona lie and policy-it is the subject ol nstonal dofenae.
 It cannot be discussed without first answering some very searching ques dons. It is said in ono quarters that we are not prepared for war, What ia meant by being preparod ls il meant that we are not ready upon brief notice to put nation in the field. nation of men trained to arms Of course we are not ready to do that; and VIC shall never be in time oi peace so long as we retain our pres ent political principles and institu tions. And what is 1t that it IS sug gested we should be prepared to dol TO de.end ourselves against attacki We have always found means to do that. and shall find them whenever it is necessary. without calling our people away from thelr neee9sary taeke to render compulsory military service in times Of peace.
 Allow ne to speak with great plain ness and directness upon this great matter and to avow my convictions with deep earnestnoss. I 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 gre in my own heart,-some Of the great conceptions and desires which give birth to this government and which have made the vice of this people a voice Of peace and hope and liberty among the peoples Of the world, and that. speaking my own thought shall, at least h part, speak theirs also. however faintly and in@deQuately upon lbis vital matter
 We Tre at peace with ali the world No one who speaks counsel based on fact or drawn from just and candid interpretation of realities can gay that there is reason to fear that rom any quarter our independence or Inc in tegrlty of our territory is threatened Dread of tho power of any other ma tion we arc incapable Of. We arc mol jealous oi rivalry in tho fields Of com merce or of any other peaceful achi evement We mean to live our owr lives as we will; but we mean also eo lot I5e. We are, indeed, true friend to all the nations Of the world because we threaten none, covet thC possessions or none, desire the over throw Of none. Our friendship can be accepted and is accepted without re servation. because it is offered in 2 spirit and for Q purpose which no on, need ever question or suspect There in Hes our greatness. We are thC champions ot peace and Of concord and we should be very jealous oi this distinction which we have sought character and reputation may pres ently, in Gods providence, bring us an opportunity such as has seldom been youchsaged any uation, the op- Dortunlty to counsel and obtain pence in the world and reconciliation end 9 healing settlement Of many matter