The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1914-12-19


to make our moral insurance against |
the spread of the conhagration very |
definite and certain and adequate in /
deed.
Let US remind ourselves. therefore, |
of the only thing we can do or will |
do. We must depend in every time |
of national peril, in the future as in |
the past, not upon a standing army, |
nor yet upon a reserve army. but upon !
q citizenry trained and accustomed |
to arms. It will be right enough. right |
American policy, based upon our &C
customed principles and practices, to |
provide a system by which every |
citizen who will volunteer for
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 a means of discipline
which our young men will learn to
value. 1t is right that we should pro
vide 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
a little freedom and can seek the
physical development they need, for
| more heaIth's sake, if for nothing
more. Every means by which such
| things can be stimulated is legitimate,
| and such a method smacks of true
| American ideas 1t is a 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 pol
! icy to make Lese provisions for our
national peace and safety
More than this carries with it a re-
versal of the whole history and char
acter of our polity. More than this,
proposed at this time, permit me to
! say, would mean merely that We had
lost our self-possessiOn. that we had
been thrown OF our balance by a war
with which he have nothing to do,
whose causes cannot touch US, whose
very existence affords US opportun-
tiles of friendship and disinterested
service which should make US
ashamed of any thought of hostility
or fearful preparation for trouble.
Ships Our Natural BuIwarks.
A powerful navy we have always
regarded as our proper and natural
means of defense; and it has always
been of defense that we have thought,
never of aggression or Of conquest.
But who shall tell US now what sort
of navy to 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 offense or of provo
cation in that. Our ships are our
natural bulwGrks. When will the ex-
perts tell US just what kind we should
construct-and when will they be
right for ten years together, if the
relative efficiency of craft for differ
ent kinds and uses continues to
change as we have seen it change
under our veTvv eyes in these last
few months?
But I 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.
such 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 a 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 un-
hampered freedom of all with whom
: we deal. Let there be no misconcep-
? ton. The country has been misin.
| formed We have not been negligen;
] | of national defense. We are not IN
? mindful OF the great responsibility
2 resting upon US. We shall learn and
2 profit by the lesson of every expert
, ence and every new circumstances;
2 and what is needed will be adequately
D done.
: Great Duties Of Peace.
close. as l began. by reminding
you of the great tasks and duties Of
peace which challenge our best pow
! ers and invite US to build what vii
| last, the tasks to which we can ad1res:
i ourselves now and at all times the
est gifts of constructive wisdom we
: possess. To develop our life and oul
resources; to supply our own people
and the people Ct the world as theil
T need arises. from the abundant plenty
o of our fields and our marts of trade
T to enrich the commerce of our owl
+ states and of the world with the prod
7 ucts of our mines, our farms. and oul
, factories, with the creations of cul
d thought and the fruits of our charac
l. ter-this is wha- will hold our atten
Il ton and our enthusiasm steadily. nov
y and in the years TO come, as we strive
g to show in our life as a nation wha
T liberty and the inspirations OF al
J. emancipated spirit may do for mer
) and for societies. for individuals, 70
| states. and for mankind.
d Russian Woman Martyr
ArS Catherine Rroc6E0vSIxr- I1our