West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1915-12-09
National Preparedness Main
Theme Of Head Of Nation.
Submits Definite Plan to In
crease Present Standing
Force Of Regulars and For
-Four Hundred Thousand
Citizen Soldiers Raised In
lncramsnts Of One Hundred
and Thirty-three Thousand.
~ OLLOWING is the message OF
President Wilson delivered at a
Joint session OF the senate and

President Wilson delivered at a
Joint session OF the senate and
house ut the beginning OF the
Sixty-fourth congress:
Gentlemen OF the Congress-Since
last had the privilege OF addressing
you on the state OF the Union the war
OF nations on the other side OF the sea.
which had then only begun to disclose
its portentous proportions. has extend
ed Its threatening and sinister scope
until 1t has swept within its flame
some portion OF every quarter OF the
globe. not excepting our own hemi-
sphere. has altered the whole face OF
international affairs, and now presents
prospect OF reorganization and re-
construction such as statesmen and
peoples have never been called upon
TO attempt before.
We have stood apart. studiously neu-
tral. IL was our manifest duty To do
no. Not only did we have no part or
interest In the policies which seem to
have brought the conflict on; Il was
necessary. II universal catastrophe
was TO be avoided. that a limit should
be set to the sweep OF destructive war
and that some part OF the great fam
lily OF nations should keep the process
es OF peace alive. II only TO prevent
collective economic ruin and the break
down throughout the world OF the in
dustries by which it's populations are
fed md sustained IL was manifestly
the duty OF the self governed nations
or this hemisphere to redress. IL posi-
BILE. the balance OF economic loss and
confusion In the other. If they could
do nothing more. In the day OF read
Jusfment and recuperation we earnest
~ hope and believe that they can be
OF infinite service.
In this neutrality. TO which they
were hidden not only by their sep
nrate life and their habitual detach-
ment from the politics OF Europe. but
also by n clear perception OF interna-
tionnl duty, the states OF America have
become conscious OF a new and more
vital community OF interest and moral
partnership In affairs. more clearly
conscious of the many common sympa-
thies and interests and duties which
bid them stand together.
There was time I'm the early days
OF our own great nation and of the re-
publics fighting their way to independ
ence I'm Central and South America
when the government OF the United
States looked upon itself as I'm some
sort the guardian OF the republics to
the south OF her MS against any en-.
croachments or efforts mt political con-
troll from the other side OF the water;
feit IL Its duty to play the part even
without Invitation from them. and !
think that we can claim that the task
was undertaken with true and disin-
= terested enthusiasm for the freedom
of the Americas and the unmolested
self government OF her independent
peoples But II was always difficult to
maintain such a role without offense
TO the pride OF the peoples whose free
dom OF action we sought to protect
'ahd' without provoking serious mis-.
Conceptions OF our motives. and every
thoughtful man Of affairs must wei.
come the altered circumstances OF the
new day In whose light we now stond.
when there tis no claim OF guardian
ship or thought OF wards, but instead
full and Honorable association as OF
partners between ourselves and our
neighbors In the interest OF all Amer.
len, north and south Our concern for
the independence and prosperity OF the
states Of Central and South America
Is not altered We retain undated the
spirit that has inspired US throughout
the whole life OF our government and
which was 80 frankly put into words
by President Monroe. We still mean
always to make a common cause OF
national independence and Of political
liberty In America. But that purpose
II now better understood so far as Il
eoncerns ourselves. II is known not TO
be Selfish purpose. II f. known To-
have In IL no thought Of taking advan.
tage OF any government I'm this hemi
sphere or playing It's political fortunes
for our own benefit. All the govern
ments Of America stand, so far az we
are concerned, upon O footing Of genu.
Inc equality and unquestloned indie
pendence.
We have been put to the test I'm the
case OF Mexico, and we have stood the
test. Whether we have benefited Mex
leo by the course we have pursued re.
aaNaHo W DE Httbs AAtI IOILNntA are III
her own bands. But we have Mt least
proved that We viii not take advan-
tage Of her IN her distress and under.
take 20 impose upon her an order and
government pf our own choosing. Lib
erty Is often fierce and intractable
thing, to which no bounds can be sot
and TO which no bounds of a few
mems choosing ought ever TO DO set
Every American who has drunk at
the true fountains OF principle aud ira
dltion must subscribe without reserva-
ton TO the high doctrine OF the Vir-
ginia bill Of rights, which In the great
days I'm which our government was set
mp was everywhere among us accept
ed as the creed OF free men. That doc.
trine Is, THAT government In or ought
20 be inetituted for the common bene-
ft protection and security of the peo-