River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1915-11-11

a definite consummation. We can and
should profit in all that we do by the
| experience and example that have
| been made obvious to US by the mill
tary end naval events of the actual
present. 1t IS not merely matter OF
| building battleships and cruisers and
submarines, but also matter Of max
| ing sure that We shall have the ade-
| quate equipment of men and NUM-
tions and supplies for the vessels we
/ build and intend to build. Part Of our
| problem is the problem OF what | may
call the mobilization of the resources
OF the nation at the proper time If 1t
| should ever be necessary to mobilize
them for national defense. We shall
study the efficiency and adequate
equipment as carefully as we shall
study the number and size OF our
ships, and believe that the plans al
ready in part made public by the navy
| department are plans which the whole
nation can approve with rational en-.
| thusiasm.
No thoughtful man feels any panic
haste in this matter The country is
not threatened from any quarter Sho
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 amongst
us. Under the new world conditions
we have become thoughtful of the
things which all reasonable men con.
slider 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 fulf1lIment of the program
propose / shall ask for the hearty sup
port Of the country, of the rank and
file of America, of men Of all shades
Of political opinion. l would not feel
that | was discharging the solemn OBJ
legation | owe the country were | not
to speak in terms of the deepest
solemnity Of the urgency and necessi-
ty Of preparing ourselves to guard and
protect the rights and privileges Of
our people, our sacred heritage of the
fathers who struggled to make us an
independent nation.
Hits at the Hyphenates.
1.-THE only thing within our own Dor
ders that has given us grave concern
in recent months has been that voices
have been raised in America profess
ing to be the voices of Americans
NH {oI1
American, but which spoke alien SYM
pathies, which came from men who
loved other countries better than they
Flowed America, men who were par
tlsans Of other causes than that OF
America and had forgotten that their
chief and only allegiance was to the
great government under which they
live. These voices have not been
many, but they have been very loud
and very clamorous. They have pro-
ceeded from few who were bitter
and who were grievously misled
America has not opened it's doors in
vain to men and women out of other
nations. The vast majority Of those
who have come to take advantage Of
with hers as we'll as their fortunes.
These men who speak alien sympa-
thies are not their spokesman, but are
the spokesman of small groups whom
1t is high time that the nation should,
call to a reckoning. The chief thing
necessary in America in order that she
should let all the world know
that she is prepared to main
tain her own great position is that
the real voice of the nation should
sound forth Enthusiastically and in ma
jestic volume, in the deep unison of a
common. unhesitating national feel
ing. I do not doubt that upon the
first occasion, upon the first opportu-
nifty, upon the first definite challenge,
that voice will speak forth in tones
which no man can doubt and with
commands which no man dare gain
say or resist.
May I not say, while / am speak
ing Of this, that there is another dan
ger that we should guard against?
We should rebuke not only nantes
tations Of racial feeling here in Amer
lea where there should be none, hut
also every manifestation Of religious
and sectarian antagonism.
Here is the nation God has builded
by our hands. What shall we do with
it? Who is there who does not stand
ready at all times to act in her behalf
in spirit Of devoted and disinterest-
ed patriotism? We are yet only in
the youth and first consciousness of
our power The day of our country's
life is still but in it's fresh morning.
Let us lift our eyes to the great tracts
OF life yet to be conquered IN the in.
terests Of righteous peace. Come, let
us renew our allegiance to America,
conserve her strength in its purity.
make her chief among those who
serve mankind, self-reverenced, self
commanded, mistress OF all forces of
quiet counsel strong above all others