The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1915-12-17
President Wilson Pleads for Pre-
paTedneSS Against Fees
Abroad and Within.
MESSAGE READ TO CONGRESS
Larger Army and Navy Urged
Trained citIEeny the Nations
Greatest Defense DisIoya
Acts Of Foreisn-5orn CitI.
gems Seorso-No Fear
Of War,

Washington, Dec. AT & Joint session
Of the house and senate the president To-
day delivered his ANIMAL message. lie
said IN part as follows:
Since I last had the privilege o. ad-
dressing you On the state Of the Union
the EgT Of nations on the other side Of
the sea, which had then only begun 10
disclose its poTtsnt0us proportions. has
extended lis threatening and sinister scope
until il has swept within its fame some
portion Of every quarter Of tie globe, not
excepting our hemisphere, has altered the
whole face Of international affairs, and
now presents & prospect Of TeoTg2riEs-
ton and reconstruction such as states
men and peoples have never bean called
upon 10 attempt before.
We have stood apart stutiously neutral
II WAS cur manifest duty 10 DO So In
the day Of REIMBURSEMENT and recupsrs-
ton we earnestly hope and believe that
we can be Of infinite service.
In this neutrality, 10 which they were
hidden not only by their separate life and
their habituAl detachment from the poll
tics o. Europe but also by 3 clear per
cspbun e international duty, the states
Of America have become conscious OF
rev and more vital community Of inter
est and moral partnership IN affairs, more
clearly conscious Of the many common
sympsthies and interests and duties which
bid them stand together.
We have been put 10 the test in the case
Of Mexico, and we have stood the test
Whether We have benefited Mexico by
the course We have pursued remains 20
De seen. Her fortunes are IN her owu
hands. But We have al least proved that
We win not take advantage Of her in her
distress and undertake 10 impose upon
her An erder and government o. our Owl
choosing.
We viii aid and befTiend Mexico. but
We viii not coeTce her; and our course
with regard 70 her ought 70 be sufficient
proof 70 su America that We seek no po-
hticG Euzerainty or selfish control
Not Hostile Rivals.
The moral is, that the states Of Amer
lea are not hostile rivals, but cooper
attng friends, and that their growing
sense Of community Of interest, alike Ii
matters political and in matters eco1ou-
ic. is likely 70 give them & new siguif-
canoe IS factors in International affairs
and In the political history Of the world
true sense & unit in world affairs, spir-@
itEal partners, standing together because
thinking together, quick with common
EympaLhies and common ideals. Separat-
GO, they are subject 70 all the cross cur
rents Of the confused politics OF & world
Of hostile rfTalriey; united in spirit and
purpose they cannot Be disappointed Of
their peaceful destiny.
Th{a fa pnuArra-sra-EvD u 80. -.
Of the spirit OF empire In it It is the en-
bootmenL the e1sctpRl embodiment, OF
tie spirit Of law and Independence and
liberty and mutual service.
There is, I venture 70 point ont, an eEpe-
ciAl significance Just now attaching to
this whole matter OF drawing the Amer
tcGs together Ia bonds Of honorable part
nsTAhfp and mutual advantage because Of
ths economic Tssdjustments which the
world must inevitably witness within the
next generation. when peace shall hRve
At last resumed its hsSlthfnl tEskE. In
the performances 81 these tasks believe
the Americas TO BE destined 10 play their
parts together. ! &m interested 70 az
your attention on this prospect now be-
c&ass unjeEs yo1 take II within your
TtsW ana psrmit the full significance OF
II 70 command Jour thought cannot
Ind the right light In which to set forth
the particular matter that lies As the
vary front Of my whole thought Is I ad-
dress you today. ] mean national de-
SsnzA
Might to Maintain Right
Out Of such thoughts grow all our POLY
Hsz- We regard war merely Is q means
Of asserting the rights OF people against
aggression, And We are as hercely SsEi
Gus Of eosrcave or dictstorIal power with
IN our oWn nation as Of aggression from
without We viii not maintain q stand
ing army except Cor uses which are AZ
neeessary in times OF peace IS IN times
OF war; and We Ehan always see TO il
that our military peace establishment il
no longer than Is actually and continuous
" Decided for the uses Of days In which
no enemies move against VI. But We
90 believe In body Of free citizens ready
&nc sEfncieut 10 take care OF themselves
snc o. the governments which they have
set up 70 serve them In our constitutions
themselves We have commanded that "ths
night OF the people 90 keep and besr
arms shall net be infringed." and our
confidence has been that our safety Ia
unes Of danger would lie Ia the rising Of
@GS 1a&no4 70 t2kS care o. Itself as the
farmers rose ~ Lexington
But way has never been 4 mere matter
q nen and gunA Il Is 3 thing OF oisci-
plined might II our citizens are ever TO
nght effectively upn & sudden summons
tney must know bow m0darn fighting "a
done. and what 70 60 when the summons
comes 70 render themselves Immediately
available and Immediately effective. Ard
ne government must Be their servant In
ms matter. must supply them with the
raining they need TO take care Of them
selves and Of Il The military arm Of their
government which they win not allow 70
cifscs them. they may properly use 70
serve them and make their Independence
sscure-snd not their own independence
merely but the rights also Of those VITA
HhoH they have made common cause.
should they also b put IN jsopardy.
They must be fitted 20 play the great
seae In the world. and particularly in this
hemisphere, for which they are quail
ned hy principle and BY chastened smbi-
ton 20 play.
II b with these Ideals IN mind that the