The Monte Vista journal., 1915-11-13

We have II in mind to be prepared.
but not for war. but only for de-
fense; and with the thought con-
stantly in our minds that the prin-
ciples we hold most dear can be a
chieved by the slow processes of
history only in the kindly and whole
some atmosphere of peace, and not
by the use of hostile force. The mis-
sion of America in the world is es-
sentially mission of peace and good
will among men. She has become
the home and asylum of men of all
creeds and races.
But we feel justified in preparing
ourselves to vindicate our right to
Independent and unmolested action
by making the force that is in us
ready for assertion.
And we know that we can do this
in a way that will be itself an illus
tration of the American spirit. In ac-
cordance with our American tradi-
tions We want and shall work for
only an army adequate to the con-
international peace. But we do
want to feel that there Is great
body of citizens who have received
at least the most rudimentary and
necessary forms of military train
ing; that they will be ready to form
themselves into a fighting force at
the call of the nation; and that the
nation has the munitions and sup
plies with which to equip them with
out delay should 1t be necessary to
call them into action.
Plans have been made which 1t will
be my privilege to lay before the con-
gress at it's next session. That plan
calls for only such an increase in the
regular army of the United States as
experience has proved to be required
for the performance of the necessary
duties of the army in the Philippines,
in Hawaii, in Porto Rico, upon the
borders of the United States, at the
coast Notifications, and at the mill
itary posts of the interior For the
rest, 1t calls for the training within
the next three years of a force of
100000 citizen soldiers to be raised
in annual contingents of $4,000,
who would be asked to enlist for
three years on furlough, but who
during their three years of enlist
ment with the colors would not bo
organized as a standing force but
would be merely expected to undergo
extensive training for a very brief
period of each year. Their training
would take place in immediate asso-
citation with the organized units of
the regular army.
No thoughtful man feels any panic
haste in this matter. The country Is
not threatened from any quarter.
She stands in friendly relations with
all the world. Her resources are
known and her self-respect and her
capacity to care for her own citizens
and her own rights. There is no
fear among us. Under the new
world conditions we have become
thoughtful of all things which all
| reasonable men consider necessary
for security and self-defense on the
part of every nation confronted with
the great enterprise of human liberty
and independence. That is all.
In the fulfillment of the program
| propose | shall ask for the hearty
support of the country, of the rank
and file of America, of men of all
shades of political opinion. For my
position in this important matter is
different from that of the private
| individual who is free to speak his
| own thoughts and to risk his own
opinions in this matter. We are here
dealing with things that are vital to
the life of America itself. In doing
this have tried to purge my heart
of all personal and selfish motives.
For the time being, l speak as the
trustee and guardian of a nations
rights, charged with the duty of
speaking for that nation in matters
involving her sovereignty,-a nation
too big and generous to be exactinR
and yet courageous enough to de-
fend Its rights and the liberties of it's
people wherever assailed or invaded,