The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-12-12
PRESIDENT OPPOSED TO
BIG STANDING ARMY.
Speaks Plainly and Directly on Cues.
tion of National Defenses,


tion Of National Defenses.
The other topic | shall take leave
to mention goes deeper into the prin.
ciples OF our national life and policy.
1t Is the subject Of national defense.
1t cannot be discussed without first
answering some very searching ques.
lions. 1t is said in some quarters that
we are not prepared for war. What is
meant by being prepared! Is 1t meant
that we are not ready upon brief no.
tlce to put nation in the field, a M.
tion OF men trained to arms? or
course we are not ready to do that,
and we shall never be in time OF peace
SO long as We retain our present polit.
lcal principles and institutions. And
what Is 1t that it is suggested we
should be prepared to do-to defend
ourselves against attack: We have al.
ways found means to do that and
shall find them whenever 1t is neces.
siry without calling our people away
from their necessary tasks to render
compulsory military service In times
OF peace.
Allow me to speak with great plain.
ness and directness upon this great
matter and to avOw my convictions
with deep earnestness. have tried
to know what America IS, what her
people think. what they are, what they
! most cherish and hold dear. | hone
that some OF their finer passions are in
my own heart-some of the great con.
ceptions and desires which gave birth
to this government and which have
made the voice OF this people q voice
or peace and hope and liberty among
the peoples OF the world. and that,
speaking my own thoughts. / shall, at
least in part. speak theirs also, how.
ever family and inadequately, upon
this vital matter.
we are at peace with all the world
! No one who speaks counsel based on
fact or drawn from n just and candid
Interpretation Of realities can say tha,
there Is reason to fear that from any
quarter our independence or the intey
rlty or our territory is threatened
Dread Of the power OF any other ma.
ton we arc incapable Of We are not
Jealous OF rivalry in the fields of com.
merce or OF any other peaceful achieve.
ment. We mean to live our own lives
as we will. but We mean also to LEI
/" ;. We are. indeed. true friend tt
all the nations OF the world. because
we threaten none, covet the posses.
siOns of none, desire the overthrow of
none.
Our friendship can be accepted and
Is accepted without reservation, be
cause it is offered in spirit and fol-
purpose which no one need ever
question or suspect. Therein lies our
greatness. We are the champions OF
peace and OF concord. And we should
be very Jealous Of this distinction
which we have sought to earn. Just
now we should be particularly Jealous
of It, because 1t is our dearest presen,
hope thar this character and reputation
may presently, in Gods providence.
bring us an opportunity such as has
seldom been vOuchSafed any nation.
the opportunity to counsel and obtain
peace In the world and reconciliation
I and healing settlement of many q
matter that has cooled and interrupt.
ell the friendship Of nations. This Is
the time above all others when we
should wish and resolve to keep oul
strength by self possession, our infu.
ence by preserving our ancient pripci.
pies Of action.
From the first we have had q clear
and settled policy with regard to mill.
fary establishments. We never have
had and while we retain our present
principles and ideals we never shall
have. large standing army. If asked
Are you ready to defend yourselves?
we reply. Most assuredly; to the Ut
most. And yet We shall not turn
America into a military camp. We
will not ask orr young men to spend
the best years of their lives making
soldiers Of themselves. There is an.
other sort Of energy in us. 1t will
know how 10 declare itself and MAKE
itself effective should occasion arise.
And especially when half the world Is
Dn fire we shall be careful to make our
'lUl lilNhI ulINS USuiISt TIE SDIeiu vi
thc cOnilagratiOn very definite and Ger.
tain and adequate indeed.
Let us remind ourselves, therefore,
OF the only thing we can do or will do.
We must depend i'm every time of M.
tional peril i'm the future rs I'm the
past. not upon standing army nor vet
upon Il reserve army. but upon citi
zenry trained and accustomed to aruAa