New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-09

themselves. There is another sort Oh
Energy in US. It will know how 70 ae-
clare itself and make itself enectNe
should occasion arise. And especialiy
when half the world is on FIRE we shaiI
be careful TO make our moral lnsar-
ance against the spread OF the comma
grafton very definite and certain ana
adequate, indeed.
Let US remind ourselves, therefore,
of the only thing we can do or Will oo'
We must depend in every time OF ma
tional peril, in the future as IN the
past, not uDon standing army, nor
vet upon a reserve army. but upon a
citizenry trained and accustomed 70
arms. It will be right enough, rign'
American policy, based upon our &C
customed principles and practices, 70
provide a system by which every citi-
zen who will volunteer for the tram
ing may be made familiar with the use
of modern arms, the rudlments OF oril
and maneuvre, and the maintenance
and sanitation of camps. We should
encourage such training and make IL
means OF discipline which our young
men will learn to value. IL is right
that we should provide it not only, but
that we should make it as attractive as
possible, and so induce our young men
to undergo it at such times as they
can command q little freedom and can
seek the physical development they
need, for mere health's sake, If for
nothing more. Every means by which
such things can be stimulated is legiti-
mate, and such a method smacks or
true American ideas. IL is right, too,
that the national guard of the states
should be developed and strengthened
by every means which is not incon-
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 it
should be our constant policy to make
these provisions for our national peace
and safety.
More than this , vies with it a re-
versal Of the whole history and charac-
ter of our policy. More than this, pro-
posed at this time, permit me to say,
would mean merely that we had lost
our self-possession, that we had been
thrown off our balance by war with
WI ich we have nothing to do, whose
causes cannot touch US, whose very
existence affords US opportunities of
friendship and disinterested service
which should make US ashamed of any
thought Of hostility or fearful prepare
ton for trouble. This is assuredly the
opportunity for which a people and
government like ours were raised up,
the opportunity not only TO speak but
actually to embody and exemplify the
counsels of peace and amity and the
lasting concord which is based on JUS
tice and fair and generous dealing.
A powerful navy we have always re-
garded as our proper and natural
means of defence; and it has always
been of defence that we have thought,
never of aggression or Of conquest.
But who shall tell us now what sort Of
navy 20 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 offence or Of provocation in
that. Our ships are our natural bull
warks. When will the experts tell us
just what kind we should construct
and when will they be right for ten
years together, if the relative efficiency
of craft Of different kinds and uses
continues 20 change as we have seen
it change under our very eyes in these
last few months?
No New Naval Policy.
But | turn away from the subject.
II 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 defence. The ques-
ton has not changed it's aspects be-
cause the times are not normal. Our
v,l; h., g., u
viii be conceived as a permanent 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 friend
ship 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 de-
fence. We are not unmindful of the
great responsibility resting upon us.
We shall learn and profit by the lesson
of every experience and every new
circumstance, and what is needed will
be adequately done.
| 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
ourselves now and at all times with
free-hearted zest and with all the
finest 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
Of our fields and our marts of trade;
TO enrich the commerce of our own
states and of the world with the
products of our mines, our farms and
our factories, with the creations of
cur thought and the fruits of our
character is what will hold our
attention and our enthusiasm steadily,
now and in the years to come, as we
strive to show in our life as a nation
what liberty and the inspirations Of
an emancipated spirit may do for men
and for societies, for individuals, for
/ states and for mankind.