Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-12-08
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
Increments Of One Hundred
and ThIrly-taree Thousand.
- OLLONING is the message OF
"A President Wilson delivered at
joint session of the senate and

il Joint session of the senate and
horse at the beginning of the
Sixty-fourth congress:
Gentleucn Of tie CongrcSS-Since !
last had tie privilege of addressing
you on the state OF the Union the war
of nations on The other side of the sea.
whrh hal then only begun to disclose
fits p0rtcntCUs proportions, has extend
ed its threatening and sinister scope
until it his swept within its fame
some portion of every quarter of the
globe. not excepting our own hcmi-
sphere las altered the whole face OF
International affairs. and now presents
Il prospect OF reorganization and re-
construction such as statesmen and
peoples baVc lever Ieen called upon
to attempt before.
We have stood apart. StudlouSly neu-
trai. 1t was our manifest duty To do
SO. Not Only did we have no part or
interest in the policies which seem to
have brought the conflict on; it was
necessary. if q universal catastrophe
was to be avoided. that Il 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. if only to prevent
collective economic ruin and the break
down throughout the world of the i'll
dustries by which its populations are
fed and sustained. IL was mGuifeStly
the duty of the self governed nations
Of this hemisphere to redress. if posi-
Bile. the balance Of economic loss and
confusion in the other. if they could
do nothing more. Ia the day OF read
justment and rccupcration 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
arate life and their habitua detach-
ment from the politics Of Europe. but
also by clear perception of interna-
tional duty. the states of America have
become conscious of Il new and more
vital community OF interest and moral
partnership in affairs. more clearly
conscious of the many common sympa-
thies and interests ard duties which
bid them stand together.
There was 4 time in the early DAYS
Of our own great nation and of the re-
publics fighting their way to independ-
ence in Central and South America
when the government of the United
States looked upon itself as in some
sort the guardian of the republics to
the south OF her as against any en-
croachments or efforts at political CON
troll from the other side Of the water:
felt it its duty to play the part even
without invitation from them, and l
think that we can claim that the task
was undertaken with true and diSin-
terested enthusiasm for the freedom
of the Americas and the unmoleStod
self government OF her independent
peoples. But it was always difficult to
maintain such 4 role without oG-enSe
to the pride of the peoples whose free
dom of action we sought to protect
and without provoking serious mis-
conceptions of our motives, and every
lHOuS utlUi iIi,tI vi dhtttiS iliiSL WEI
ZONE the altered circumstances OF the
new day in whose light We now stand
when there is no claim of guardian
ship or thought of wards. but instead
4 full and honora bic association as of
partners between ourselves and our
leighbors in the interest of all Amer
ca. north and south. Our concern for
he independence and prosperity of the
states of Central and South America
s not altered. We retain unabated the
spirit that has inspired rs throughout
he whole life OF our government and
which was so frankly put into words
~ President Monroe. We still mean
always to make common cause OF
rational independence and of political
liberty in America But that purpose
: now better understood so far as it
concerns ourselves. 1t is known not to
re selfish purpose. 1t is known to
ave in it no thought Of taking advan-
age of any government in this hemi-
sphere or playing its Political fortunes
or our own benefit. All the govern
nentS Of America stand, so far as We
ire concerned, upon a footing of genu-
he equality and unquestioned indie
,endence
We have been put to the test In the
:ase of Mexico. and we have stood the
bst. Whether We have benefited Mex
CO by the course we have pursued re-
mains to be seen. Her fortunes are III
Ter own hands. But we have at least
proved that we will not take advan-
age Of her in her distress and under
axe to impose upon her an order and
government of our own choosing. Lib
rty is often fierce and intractable
hing, to which no bounds can be set
md to which no bounds Of a few
mems choosing ought ever to be set.
Every American who has drunk at
the true fountains Of principle and ira
dition must subscribe without reserva-
ton to the high doctrine Of the Vir-
ginia bill of rights, which in the great
days in which our government was set
up was everywhere among us accept
ed as the creed of free men. That doc
trine is, THAT government is or ought
to be instituted for the common bene