The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-12-08
In Message to Congress To-
day He Hinted That the
United States Might Have
the Enviable Position of
Peacemaker in the Euro
pean War-"We Are the
Champions of Peace and
Concord"

Washington, d. C., Dec. S.-President
Wilson, in his annual address to Congress
to-day, gave his answer to those who
contend the United States is unprepared
for national defense.
let there be no misconception, he
said. "The country has been misin-
formed. We have not been negligent Of
national defense. We are not unmindful
of the great responsibility resting upon
us. We shall learn and profit by the les
son of every experience and every new
circumstances and what is needed will
be adequately DONE"
Assembled in joint session in the hall
of the House, senators and representa-
tives heard the president reading his adj
dress in person from the clerks desk,
outline the administration legislative
program and voice fervent hope that
the United States might be instrumental
in bringing peace to Europe. The legis-
lative program includes passage of the
conservation bills, the bills for ultimate
independence of the Philippines, ratifca-
tion of the London convention for safety
at sea, a government owned merchant
marine, charting the pcrilous waters of
the Alaskan coast and measures for econ
omy in all branches of the government.
But the portion of the presidents ad-
dress which commanded intense interest
was that in which he discussed the sub
iect of national defense.
ut is said in some quarters that we
are not prepared for war" said the presi- |
dent. "What is meant by being pre-. |
paredi Is ii meant that we are not !
ready upon brief notice to put a nation |
in the field, nation of men trained TO
armsi OF course we are not ready 10 do |
that; and we shall never be in time Of /
peace so long as we retain our present /
political principles and institutions. And
what is IL that it is suggested we should
be prepared to do' To defend ourselves
against attack We have always found
means to do that. and shall find them
whenever il is necessary without calling
our people away from their necessary
tasks to render compulsory military serv-
zee in times Of peace.
America Not a Militant Camp.
From the first We have had clear
and settled policy with regard 10 mill.
tery establishments We never have had
and while we retain our present prin-
eiples and ideals we never shall have.
large standing army II asked, Are you
ready 10 defend yourselvesi we reply,
Most assuredly. 20 the utmost. and vet
We shall not turn America into a milf
tary camp. We win not ask our Young
men 20 spend the best years Of their
lives making soldiers Of themselves !
There i another sort II energy IN us. II ,
win know how to declare itself and make
itself effective should occasion arise. And !
especially when half the world Il on FIRE /,
10 shall BE- careful to make our moral
insurance against the spread Of the con-
1arratiou rers definite and certain and
iiequate indeed.
Depend Upon voiunteers
aIet us remind ourselves. therefore. of
DE only thing ue can DO o. wiIl d. We
must depend in every time Of national q
peril IN the futurp ss IN the past. not 4
1frn a standing army. nor yet upou q
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