The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1915-08-31
At Boston, August 81, 1915, b.
Henry A. Wise Wood,
Chairman

Conference Committee on National
Preparedness, Mr. Chairman and Gen
tlemen: ! should be remiss did not
spend the first of the few minutes al
lotted me in expressing for the nine
organizations which | represent their
deep gratitude for the opportunity af.
forded by your invitation, of setting
before you their anXieties over the
grave condition of our national de-
lenses. | need not say that in coming
to you, through me, they are consci-
Gus that they are being heard by
those who have been chosen by the
forty.eight commonwealth which
make up our common country as the
men who, by character, wisdom and
training, are the most able among
their citizens 70 discharge the heavy
responsibilities attaching to their pro-
lection and governance. Nor is this
all for those who compose these or
CARNATIONS in untroubled times of all
shades of political faith, have sunk
their political differences, and given
me instructions to appeal to you as
an American representing Americans
who in this hour of perpleXity have
at heart neither sectional nor politi-
cal interests, but only the national
safety.
Thus, I come to you with, hands
that are clean of politics with no
criticism of parties or of men, intent
solely upon saying that large and
intelligent body of our people are so
thoroughly aroused over the use that
is being made of the ornaments of
Europe, and Of the threat against our
security which that use implies that
they have determined at whatever
cost, to place this land beyond the
reach of military devastation. In
common with you and with all citi-
Zens, whose anxieties they believe
they correctly interpret. those who
compose these bodies for which I
speak abhor war, and detest that spir-
it which would make of military dom
nation the chief object Of nations
thought. Also they deny the valid
ity of the doctrine that would make
of the civilian the pawn of a military
caste, and assert that free civil life
should be the chief aim Of national
existence.
The solder who carries weapon
for purposes of aggression is in their
eyes. as in the eyes of every lover
of peace, an unspeakably Ubiquitous
product Of government. whom they
will neither create for themselves nor
permit in the interest of others to set
his foot upon this soil, wetted in the
freeing by the blood of your forebears
of my forebears and their forebears.
Neither now or ever can the spectre
of mllitarlsm. of the control of cur
national life by q respotlc military
caste, rear itself in this democratic
land On this national policy stand
We all Of us, firm in the belief that
however high the armed dyke which
we must now rear to protect our
shores from the threatening food of
devastating war, that dyke ever shall
remain bulwark Of personal liberty
and never become the wall of bar
racks, in which its creators may bind
the pcpulace to the wheels of the
chariot of aggression, to be driven
into other lands. Therefore, this
great movement which we represent
is not open to the charge which the
timid are inclined to make, that 1t
seeks to saddle our people with
forthwith any form-of military
despotism.
Gentlemen, | have come here thru
some of the most beautiful country
that man ever has titled and woman
carpeted with flowers. There were
fields of grain that beat like the
waves of a golden sea against green
islands of trees hung with gems OF
fruit. There were winding roads In
exquisite smoothness, swift ribbons
of friendship which bind together in
neighborly contentment the homes OF
the rich and the less rich alike. There
were factories throbbing with work.
There were white churches, there
were Libraries, there were play
grounds. And, gentlemen, filling all
of these there were people, men, wo-
men, children, happy, thoughtless and
care free. In all of my journey I
do not remember having seen a rough
incident of life. nor even a policeman
to remind me that there still remains
in the world the need for forse. Ard
thought how good is civil life; how
precious the freedom to go or to come
TO work or to play, to think or to