Weekly journal-miner., 1915-10-13

] -A StiA iAAS W el iAlllS VI lllN uduSGIS Ol
 unpreparednes sand thrilling appeal
 to the nations legislators to provide
 proper defenses to protect this coun-
 try'S honor from blemish and to
 secure its shores against foreign in
 vasion was made by Senator Henry F. Ashurst, of Prescott, Arizona, at
 the National Preparedness Luncheon
 of the Navy League at the New
 Willard hotel.
 Mr. Ashurst's speech was as fol lows:
 With our nation leading in com
 merce, wealth, enlightment and christ
 ianity; with our nation teaching the
 other powers of the earth lessons in
 true moral courage, justice and
 magnanimity. and with our country
 setting the world an example in mod
 eration, forbearance and prudence
 our people calmly discuss the means
 that will keep our nation in the paths
 of peace and security.
 If the men who gives his family
 over to the dangers and vicissitudcs
 of his neglect and indolence is de-
 serving of censurc and scorn, how much greater should be the contempt and ccnsure for the public servant who, sworn to protect and defend his country neglccts his duty, evades his obligations, and exposes not only. his family, but his constituency-indeed his entire nation, to the dangers of conquest, defeat and degradation. To neglect ones liberty is to lose it; to neglect ones country is to perish with it.
 The 63rd congress with its un- paralleled record of constructive leg islation, acting under the leadership of the president of the United States and upon the report of the secretary of the navy, authorized construction of additional dreadnaughts, destroy CTS, submarines and other necessary craft; for, while it is easy and pleas ing to indulge in self-deceptions and thus evade the unwelcome thought of national defeat or degradation, it is neither wise, judiciouS, nor states to do so. It is wiser and safer to be on guard and preclude all pos sibility of danger than to hide our fears of danger in the secret rcccsscs of our closets.
 "The world seems out of joint just ! now, and it is better for us to be l sure than sorry In day of ! trouble we can not instantoneously . convert sleepy fat self assurances into national security. Men may be heroes, but unless they are drilled, their heroism will end only in un- ivailing martyrdom. Our caverns and mountains are filled with copper and iron orc, bu tthcse cannot be stantly mctamorphoscd into battle ships, Preparation and vigilance only can work the necessary changes. Men do not ascend to emincnce, strength and power by single leap TOT by growth overnight. It is only y steady tread that man moves up I,c ,,,,-,,nJ .,otT, 4o ercrc=S Those yho reach cmincncc and distinction Ire those who subject their lives to he fierce fires of intellectual and physical endcavor. Success and eff icncy come only after many years If anxious striving and long sustained fort. So it is with a nation. II , olds its place and preserves its :. bcrty only by never becoming care ess and by never despising nor un- errating an opponent. Ever since :; he days of the children of Noah men ave sought to build them a tower then they might ascend and thus es- 7, ape the hardships of this world. But uch cannot be; under natures harsh ut profound law, we must meet and vcrcomc dangers and perform r uties; we cannot build a tower pity enough to take us above and |, eyond the trials and duties of this fc. G "So, ill consideration of these i, uths, congress saw the need for a n calthy and steady growth of our z avy. When congress adopted meas i, res for our national defense VIC sim h y take additional guarantees for the s. ,curity and reposc of the American eoplc - additional guarantee that, ough. passion i'll other lands may ere hurl reason from her throne. othing shall deter the United State, om it's course of wisdom and justice. sf c take the prccaution to guard our n, ,ople. who demand justice, not h; noble revenge, and who shown O rcngth or heart and steadfast self Nr utrol aI Whatever the 64lh congress shall co }, will be done with hcroism, not in